Of Sand and Shadows [T]

Some would say that "barren" and "Orre" were the same thing.

It would only take any individual a brief view of the landscape to see why. The desert region sprawled for miles, seemingly without end, with little to no life in sight. The sun blazed down mercilessly on the copper sands as the winds whistled aimlessly across them. The only sign of life was the occasional tumbleweed that rolled lazily on by.

There was one thing that disrupted the flat expanse: a series of cliffs, tucked away from the sands, which formed a narrow canyon. At this canyon's mouth sat a large building - or, at least, something that almost qualified as one. The structure, though massive, almost looked more like a pile of poorly assembled pipes and scrap metal than an actual building. Like its surroundings, this, too, was a quiet and still place, with only the howling canyon winds to break the silence.

It wouldn't be quiet for long.

BOOOOM!

An earth-rending explosion shattered the stillness as flames burst from a section of the dilapidated building. The scene suddenly sprung to life with shouts and screams as people in dark uniforms emerged from the destruction, darting back and forth in panic and confusion. Among the chaos, no one seemed to notice one person in particular dashing from the building, with two Pokemon sprinting at his side.

"Go, go, GO!" the young man shouted at his companions as he ran straight for a massive hunk of metal that vaguely resembled a motorcycle. He sprang nimbly onto the seat and glanced into the sidecar to where his two partners should have closely followed. But instead of two, there was only one, his Umbreon, watching him tensely for further commands.

He glanced over his shoulder and found his Espeon a few yards away, yipping loudly at the people fleeing the burning building, tail waving triumphantly in the air. He didn't speak Pokemon, but the young runaway figured if he did, he would be hearing a choice selection of colorful insults.

"Neo, you idiot-"

"Espi-esp, esp, esp! Es-SPI!?" The Espeon's barks cut short in a yip of surprise as his Trainer hauled him off his feet and shoved him under one arm. He sprinted back to the motorcycle and dumped the creature rather unceremoniously into the sidecar next to his brother, ignoring the Pokémon's cries of indignation.

"LEO! I'LL KILL YOU, BOY!"

A terrifying roar of rage sounded from behind the trio, and the Trainer turned his head to see his least favorite person in the world: a massive, hulking man with no hair (though he made up for that with an impressive beard and eyebrows), charging straight toward them, his face red and contorted with unfathomable fury. A cluster of his employees streamed after him, their shouts and cries adding to the chaos.

Anger and bitter satisfaction alike swelled inside his chest. He faced his now-former boss with a growl.

"If you're going to threaten me," he said, "call me by my real name." He sneered. "It's Wes, by the way. In case you forgot."

The man roared again, this time too incensed to form any words. He barreled toward the Trainer and his Pokémon with a murderous expression.

It was time to go.

The motorcycle engine started with a roar, and in one smooth motion, the young man swept astride the motorcycle. He raised his left arm high above his head, sunlight glinting off a strange metal contraption that encased it. Holding a small remote in his hand, he looked his former boss dead in the eye, smirked, and pressed the button.

KA-BOOOM!

The second explosion was, if possible, even more impressive than the first, and nearly knocked every bystander off their feet. The giant man's screams of rage continued, but they were drowned out by a monstrous roar as the motorcycle kicked into gear. Its rider slammed on the gas and he and his Pokémon sped away, leaving the scene of wreckage behind in a cloud of dust.

---

The sun was sinking below the horizon and the temperatures had started to drop by the time their destination came into view: an old, rusty, seemingly abandoned train car. A wooden sign hung from a post near the door and was swinging lazily in the desert breeze. On its face, it read: OUTSKIRT STAND. The crusty thing had been converted into a diner, and though it wasn't much to look at, it was a place that Wes was familiar with. Most importantly, it was a place where they would be safe for the night.

He hoped.

The motorcycle puttered to a halt as Wes pulled up to the establishment. Dim lights shone through the train car windows as old Western music hummed from an outdoor speaker. Wes stood and stretched his limbs - speeding through the desert for hours did his joints no favors - as his Pokemon followed suit, leaping nimbly from the vehicle and stretching their lithe bodies.

"All right, who's hungry?" He pushed his mirrored goggles off his face and into his sandy-white hair, revealing a pair of golden colored eyes, and grinned at the two Eons. His Umbreon gave a yip of hearty affirmation. His Espeon, on the other hand, squinted at him, then sniffed airily and turned his head away from his Trainer.

"Spi."

A weary sigh escaped Wes' throat. He crouched down in front of his Espeon to be eye level with him despite the fact that the Pokémon was pointedly avoiding his gaze. "Neo. Is this about me manhandling you back there?"

The Pokemon, Neo, irritably flicked his tail in response.

Another sigh. "Look, I'm sorry. But there's a time and a place for gloating over a victory, and doing so while escaping from an exploding building is not it."

Neo flicked his ears back and looked at the ground, looking slightly abashed. "Esp." He then looked back up at his Trainer with a small glare. "Espi-esp!"

"I know, I shouldn't have been so rough. I'm sorry, bud, really. How can I make it up to you?" He glanced at the Outskirt Stand, then back at his Pokemon with a sly grin. "How about I get you a whole plate of bacon and we call it even. Truce?"

Neo's eyes grew wide and he leaped to his feet. "Es-PI!" He waved his tail excitedly in the air, all injuries to his pride forgotten.

"Bri!" There was a reproachful bark from the Umbreon.

Wes rolled his eyes, but was still grinning despite himself. "Fine, fine, bacon for everybody. Don't get used to it though, you hear? This is a one-time deal."

He wasn't sure if they heard the last line, as they were already bounding excitedly to the entrance of the train car. He snorted in exasperated amusement, then followed his companions into the warmth of the diner.

---

Muffled cries, the screams of Pokémon, a child sobbing quietly in a corner - images and sounds flickered and blurred together, one coming right after the other as if in a disorganized photo reel.

A flicker, and there was a dark room, in which a child was sobbing over the limp form of a Pokémon's body. He looked up, tear-stained face twisted with anger. "This is YOUR FAULT!" he screamed.

The scene dissolved into darkness, and a man's husky, menacing voice spoke in a snarl. "It's time you learned this lesson, boy."

Another shift, another dark room littered with Pokemon lying ominously still, and there was another voice, a kinder voice, accompanied with a sad, tired smile.

"Do good, kid."

He sat bolt upright with a gasp, drenched in sweat and shivering. Breathing heavily, he glanced around the room. It took a moment to remember where he was: Outskirt Stand. The diner cellar. Payment for a night's stay in the musty place, where he and his Pokemon would be hidden from prying eyes.

Safe.

"Dammit-" He buried his face in his trembling hands. Again, he thought shakily. Again. When in Arceus' name will they stop?

He felt a gentle nudge at his arm, and raised his head to see his Umbreon looking up at him with wide, concerned eyes. "Umbri?" The markings on his coat glowed softly, gently illuminating the dark, dusty cellar.

Wes forced a feeble smile and placed a hand on the sleek black head. "I'm okay, Novo. Just some more bad dreams, is all." Beside him, Neo stirred and stretched out his legs before relaxing back into sleep with a gentle purr.

Novo, unconvinced, bunted into his arm again with his head. He placed a paw on his Trainer's lap, giving him a stern stare.

"I know it'll help, bud, but I've got to be able to sleep on my own sometime." Wes closed his eyes briefly. He was exhausted, and yet returning to sleep would undoubtedly mean more nightmares, more voices, more things he'd rather forget...he opened his eyes again and looked at his Umbreon. "All right...just one more night," he said wearily.

Novo purred in response and brushed his face against the Trainer's shoulder. The traveler laid back down in his sleeping bag and closed his eyes as his Umbreon touched his nose to his forehead and purred gently, using Hypnosis.

Just before drifting off to a dreamless sleep, he had one last coherent thought.

The sooner we leave this region, the better.

Ah! Thanks for stopping by with your review!

To be totally honest, I’m still finding my way around this site. I lost most of my formatting when I copied and pasted the chapter here, and for the life of me I CANNOT figure out how to fix it! I had italics and line breaks between scenes, and I can’t seem to find an option to put in either of those things. Any help with that would be greatly appreciated! Lol.

And on that note, I have 13 chapters of this written so far, but kind of gave up on posting the rest here until I could figure out the formatting problem. Hopefully that can be resolved soon so that I can upload the rest! Speaking of...did I post the first chapter correctly? Is there a way I can thread mark it so that comments and replies are separate from the actual chapters, or is that just how it is? Again, I clearly don’t know how to function here. XD

Last but not least, Wes’ actions will certainly be addressed at a later point. You’re absolutely right that he is both reckless and desperate, and that will be explored as the story goes along.

Thanks for stopping by! And if you have any answers to my questions about posting...by all means, please enlighten me. XD

He was awakened the following morning by the sound of footsteps and chatter from the diner overhead. He was slowly gathering his bearings as he sat up, stretched, and yawned, when a familiar smell wafted to his nose...

Bacon.

He groaned. “Aw, hell-”

“ESPI!”

He was pushed flat on his back as his Espeon leaped at him, eyes wide, tail wiggling in excitement. “Espi! Epsi, espi, espi, espi, espi!”

“No, Neo,” Wes shoved the Pokemon off of him with a grumble. “I gave you and Novo plenty of bacon last night. One-time deal, remember?”

At the sound of his name and “bacon” being used in the same sentence, the Umbreon lifted his head and yawned. “Umbri?” He pricked his ears forward and gave his Trainer a hopeful look.

“I said no, guys.” He donned a teal trench coat that fell past his knees and began to pack up his belongings, pausing only to give them a stern look. “Last night was a special treat, but today we have to get on the road as quick as possible, which means nothing fancy for breakfast. And that’s final.”

Naturally, not ten minutes later, he found himself sitting sitting across from his Pokémon in the diner, watching them each chow down a fresh plate of bacon.

Despite all his griping, he did relish the opportunity to spoil his partners a little. Bacon - or any decent food, for that matter - was hard to come by, and therefore was practically a delicacy. Under normal circumstances, he would have had to resort to swiping table scraps for all three of them, but thanks to the cash he’d snatched from the hideout, he could afford to dote on his Pokémon just a little. After yesterday, he figured they deserved it anyways.

The diner was just as shabby on the inside as it was on the outside. Still, there was a homey feel about the place, peeling wallpaper and rusty metal windows notwithstanding. The smells of various breakfast foods drifted through the air while the signature Western music played quietly in the background. On the wall across from where they sat was a flatscreen TV, arguably the most modern thing about the place. It was showing some old, obscure cartoon that nobody seemed to be watching.

Through the grimy window next to their booth, he could see two men laughing and talking amongst themselves, seemingly rejuvenated after a hearty meal. They continued laughing as they entered their vehicle - an old hover truck of some sort. Neo paused from his feast to watch them intently, his ears pricked forward, eyes trained on a large burlap sack that rested in the truck bed. His gaze remained steadfastly fixed on them, and he only returned his attention to his plate after they drove away and out of sight.

Wes had turned his attention elsewhere. He ate his breakfast quietly while discreetly scanning the occupants of the place. It was relatively empty, with only a middle-aged woman seated up front, dozing quietly in her booth, and a gruff-looking man stretched out at his own booth in the back, face obscured by his cowboy hat. The diner owner could be heard whistling from the kitchen behind the counter at the very front of the train car. No signs of immediate danger, it seemed. Still, he was anxious for them to be on their way.

“Here’s the plan,” he muttered quietly to his Pokémon. They both looked up at him from empty plates, licking the last remnants of bacon grease from their muzzles. “We’ll head to Phenac to stock up on supplies, and head straight to Gateon from there. It’ll take us a handful of days, but if we only stop for occasional breaks, we should make it in good time. And then, if all goes well, I can get a passport there and we’ll be out of Orre. For good.” Those last two words felt like a breath of fresh air to him. They were so close now, he could almost taste it. Soon, very soon, they would be rid of this Arceus-forsaken desert, and they would be free.

Neo chirped softly in agreement while his brother nodded, looking resolute. Wes couldn’t help but smile softly and give them each a rub behind the ear. He’d never been much for people, but his partners more than made up for that. As far as he was concerned, there was no need for human company when his Pokémon were far and away better than any humans he’d bothered with.

“We bring this breaking news to you live from Eclo Canyon-”

A female reporter’s voice blared suddenly from the TV and interrupted his thoughts. He turned his head and felt his chest freeze; raw footage was being displayed on the screen, footage of a familiar metal building, now reduced to shambles and a pile of smoking debris. The diner owner poked his head from the kitchen and, upon seeing the report, grabbed a remote from the counter and cranked up the volume. The woman up front snorted awake at the noise, and soon everyone present was watching intently.

“Reports of an explosion yesterday have led investigators and authorities to this building, which has now officially been confirmed as the home base for Team Snagem. The scene was already abandoned by the time authorities arrived, and no casualties have been confirmed. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.

“Team Snagem is infamous for its involvement in theft, property destruction and Pokémon trafficking. Authorities have been unsuccessful in shutting down the organization...”

“Hah!” Wes gave a start as the gruff man from the back barked out a laugh. “Serves ‘em right, the rotten thieves! Shoulda blown the whole lot of ‘em away!” He rose to his feet and stretched.

“Aye, I’ll level with ya there.” The owner nodded approvingly as he spoke, and the woman up front gave a disdainful sniff.

“I don’t understand how authorities haven’t at least made some progress,” she said. “Whoever bombed that shack has done more than they have in thirty years!”

The Trainer turned back to his plate and inhaled deeply, willing his heart to stop racing so fast. He glanced uneasily at the metal sleeve that covered his left arm from his shoulder to his wrist. The existence of Snag Machines was not public knowledge, and his identity was safe for now. All he needed to do was get moving as quick as possible -

“Howdy, stranger!” A hand clapped on his shoulder, and he found himself jumping again. Inwardly cursing, he turned his head to see the man from the back now standing beside him, grinning down at him. “Those are some mighty fine Pokémon ya got there!”

Wes shrugged off the man’s hand and eyed him darkly. “Can I help you?” He growled.

The man chuckled and removed his hat, revealing a surprisingly young looking face and a head of pink hair - pink hair? He offered a hand to the young Trainer. “Name’s Willie. Yours?”

He did not shake his hand. “Wes,” he answered curtly.

Willie withdrew his hand, though he didn’t seem to take any offense from Wes’ rudeness. “Mighty fine name. Say, you look like a tough Trainer. Would ya like a battle?”

It was the very last thing Wes wanted. “No,” he said, “we’re about to leave-"

“Aw, don’t be like that! We can keep it short. My Pokémon could really use the training, see.”

Wes could feel his annoyance festering inside of him. However, he could also feel the eyes of both the woman and the diner owner on him, and he had no desire to cause a scene. “Fine,” he grumbled.

Willie beamed as though Wes had accepted his challenge with friendly enthusiasm. “Excellent! I’ll be waiting outside when you’re ready, partner!” He strode to the exit, paying for his meal at the front counter before departing.

Wes soon followed suit, Neo and Novo trotting excitedly at his heels. He supposed it had been a while since they’d had a chance to battle - properly, anyway. He figured battling while on the job for Snagem hadn’t really counted, considering the main goal had been thievery and not victory.

Willie was standing leisurely in the desert sun, hands in his pockets. The sunlight made his bright pink hair even more shocking to look at, and Wes quietly snorted to himself in disbelief. Pink hair. Unbelievable. Not that he had much of a right to mock strange hair color - his own was such a light, sandy blonde, it was often mistaken for silvery white. Still, at least he could blame genetics instead of poor decisions.

He noticed Willie eyeing the metal contraption on his arm, but if the stranger thought anything of it, he said nothing. After all, eccentric fashion choices weren’t unusual in Orre.

The man did, however, squint his eyes a little as he observed the tattoo on Wes’ face; a thin white line that went across the bridge of his nose from one cheekbone to the other. Wes was not unused to strange looks at his face, and while stares in general made him uneasy, he’d learned to shrug it off. Still, he sighed a little at the man’s scrutinizing look. Speaking of bad decisions...but no, it was better this way. Tattoo or no, he would have been stared at anyway; his choices had been either a nasty scar or this tattoo to cover it up, and he’d chosen the latter.

Willie met Wes’ gaze and grinned. “Ready?” Wes gave a curt nod, and the Trainer released his two Pokemon out onto the sand.

Wes eyed the two Zigzagoon that stood in front of their trainer, and inwardly sighed. So much for a challenge for his Pokémon. This would be a quick battle, indeed.

It was over before it had even begun. Wes called for Neo to use Confusion and Novo to use Bite, and before either of their opponents could launch a solid attack, they were both lying motionless in the sand.

Willie sheepishly rubbed the back of his head as he recalled his Zigzagoon. “Well, I didn’t think I’d win, but I’d hoped to give you at least somewhat of a challenge...hey, you leavin’ already?” He exclaimed as Wes started for his motorcycle.

“Yes.” Wes hopped on his vehicle and turned to face the man as his Eons followed behind. He noticed Neo walking with a particular swagger after his breezy victory before sauntering into the sidecar. Show off. Novo remained calm and stoic as ever, faithfully watching his Trainer for any commands as he settled next to his brother with a dignified air. “Do you know the fastest route to Phenac from here?” Wes asked Willie.

“Phenac, eh? You gonna take on the Pre-Gym there? You’re certainly tough enough.” When Wes didn’t reply, he shrugged and pointed the way. “Head that direction and you’ll be there by early afternoon. It’s mostly a straight shot.”

Wes nodded his thanks. He was about to start his motorcycle when a thought occurred to him, and he turned back to the other Trainer. “Hey.”

“Yeah?” Willie grinned at him again. Such open friendliness from a total stranger. He was far too naive for this place.

“You should be more careful about who you challenge to battle. Your Pokémon are easy targets, and there are still plenty of Snaggers out there.” He pulled his goggles over his eyes and gripped the handlebars tightly with gloved hands. “Don’t pick fights you have no chance of winning.” With that, the motorcycle roared to life and he drove off, leaving a bemused Trainer in his wake.

---

Phenac city was often referred to as “the jewel of the desert”, and it was easy to see why. Laid out in a circular pattern, with the tallest buildings at the northernmost top of the circle, the city gleamed with white stone and crystalline waterfalls flowing along the streets. The desert sun reflected off the sparkling water and white structures, making it blindingly bright to look at.

To Wes, it was a literal eyesore.

Perhaps he simply wasn’t used to such pristine buildings and clean streets. His life had consisted of dirt, sweat, and rust, and none of those things seemed to belong in such a perfect place as Phenac. Plus, there was an air of false grandeur about the place that repulsed him. He‘d preferred to avoid it on his previous missions if he could help it, but today’s errands deemed it a necessary destination.

We won’t be here for long, Wes told himself as he and his partners walked to the city gate. Just head to the market, grab supplies, and get back on the road. In and out. Simple.

The desert winds billowed the tails of his blue trench coat behind him as he, Neo and Novo approached the city gate. Neo swatted playfully at the swaying fabric before bounding ahead to be at the front of the group, where he usually preferred to be.

They had just stepped through the city entrance and started their way to the center of town when Wes saw the Espeon stop dead in his tracks. He didn’t think much of it and continued walking; random things caught Neo’s attention all the time. He did stop, however, when he heard a soft, alarmed chirp behind him. “Spi!”

Wes glanced over his shoulder to see his Espeon standing stiffly, fur on end. He was facing away from his Trainer, ears forward, eyes focused on two men in the shadows near the city wall. They were hefting a large burlap sack between them, and were muttering under their breath, glancing about warily.

“Neo?” Wes asked quietly. He approached his Pokémon and knelt beside him, Novo close behind. “What’s wrong?”

“Espi.” Neo looked at Wes with wide eyes, then back at the men in the shadows. “Esp!”

Wes observed the pair with narrowed eyes. He vaguely recognized the truck parked against the wall and remembered seeing it briefly at the Outskirt Stand. He gave Neo a questioning look. The Espeon continued to stare forward, body rigid, and growled softly.

Perhaps it was obvious, or maybe Wes’ personal history had taught him the signs; either way, it was clear to him that these men were not up to anything wholesome, and everything about their demeanor screamed, “shady business”. He got to his feet with a sigh and turned away. “Not our business, bud. We’re here to get away from those kinds of people, remember?”

“Es-piiii!” He felt teeth tugging at the hem of his pants and saw Neo gripping the black fabric in his mouth, looking up at him with a pleading expression.

“What’s the matter with you?” Wes asked irritably. Since when had his Espeon developed such a strong moral compass? “We can’t stop every shady person in town. Leave that to authorities or something. Let’s go.”

“Bri, umbri.” This time Novo chimed in, looking up at his Trainer with urgency.

“Both of you now?” Exasperated, Wes turned one last look at the suspicious men. They had set down the sack and now appeared to be quietly arguing with one another - but they weren’t the ones who held his attention this time.

The burlap sack was moving.

“Oh, for Arceus’ sake.” He ran a hand through his sandy hair and looked down at Neo and Novo. “What, they have a Pokémon or something?” Neo’s tail lashed, and Novo flattened his ears against his head. He frowned at them. “Not a Pokémon? Then what...?”

Oh.

He looked at the sack again. Whatever - no, whoever - was in the sack was struggling fiercely, and this prompted a bark and a kick from one of the men.

Merciful Arceus, he thought. Kidnappers? In broad daylight? In Phenac City, no less? Even for Orre’s standards, it was rather bold. He glanced back at his distressed Pokémon and sighed. They had come here for a pit stop, nothing more. They had a long road ahead, a city to get to, an unforgiving region to leave behind forever. He had absolutely no obligation to interfere in what was clearly a messy situation, especially considering they were in enough hot water as it was.

Let someone else handle it, he thought. Preferably someone who didn’t have an entire gang of thugs out for their blood.

“Not our business,” Wes said again, and turned away. “Let’s go.”

He only made it two steps before Neo sprang in front of him, fur bristling, giving his Trainer a hard, burning stare. Novo stood cautiously at Wes’ side; Wes knew the Umbreon would go along with whatever plan his Trainer thought best, especially if it was the safer route. Neo, however, seemed to have his own agenda at the moment.

“Move.”

“Esp.”

The two glared each other down for a moment, Novo glancing between them. Wes had all but made up his mind to return Neo to his Pokeball when his brother stepped forward, cautiously moving between them, and looked intently into Wes’ eyes.

“Oh, for the love of-” Wes turned on his heel and made his way towards the old hover truck, swearing under his breath. “Fine.” His every instinct screamed at him to walk away and to never think about those men again, and as much as he wanted to listen, he couldn’t bring himself to say no to the pleading stares of his Pokémon. “This is the only time, got it? Don’t make me pretend to be some hero.” Neo and Novo chirped and strode eagerly at his heels.

Wes could hear their conversation as he approached. “Wha’ do you mean, take a rest? We’re almost there!”

“I’m tired, man. An’ shouldn’t we bunker down till nightfall anyhow? This lil scrap ain’t making it easy for us, and I don’t want to cause no scene.” The second man glared down at the wriggling sack.

“I’ll cause a scene!” The first man snarled. His eyes were shielded by his own pair of sunglasses, and some blonde hair could be seen poking out from under his dark beanie. “We’re gonna cash in on this haul today, an’ I don’t care how tired you are! I ain’t keeping this extra baggage longer than I have to!”

“Pipe down, Trudly!” his partner hissed. “We can’t go around shoutin’ our business, someone might hear us-”

“Someone like me, for instance?”

The pair whipped around to find Wes standing a few yards away, arms folded, his Eons at his side. The first man, Trudly, addressed him in a low growl.

“Listen, kid, I dunno what you heard, but you best keep to your own business if you know what’s good for you.”

Wes raised an eyebrow. “Very scary. Consider me intimidated.”

Trudly snarled and took a step forward, but his partner reached out an arm and stopped him. “Ain’t nothin to see here, stranger. We’re just delivery men doin’ our route. Now get gone.” He glared at Wes through a pair of orange goggles that matched the absurd color of his hair.

“Funny, I don’t recall people being a common delivery item,” Wes remarked. Both of the men paled. “Would your ‘route’ happen to include some sort of human trafficking ring?”

The sack wriggled again, and this time muffled shouts could be heard coming from inside. The second man swore vehemently and gave the bag another kick, producing a yelp from their captive. “Damn it all,” he spat at Wes, “You just had to stick your nose where it don’t belong! We’ll make you sorry, boy!”

He stepped forward and summoned his Pokémon in a flash of white light. Two Whismur hopped forward, tensed for battle. Despite their readiness to fight, it was hard to find the pink, rotund things menacing. Wes snorted. “Is that all you got?”

“You cocky little-” The Whismur Trainer’s lip curled, and he bellowed at his Whismur. “UPROAR!”

“Neo, Novo, charge up!” Wes barely had time to give the command before the opposing Pokémon launched their assault. The Eons responded immediately to the veiled phrase, having executed it hundreds of times before.

Neo’s forehead jewel gleamed, and a silvery Protect shield formed around him, blocking the Whismurs’ attacks completely. Novo, however, braced himself and took the hit - he tumbled backwards, then scrambled back to his feet and howled. Neo’s fur bristled and his eyes gleamed as he gained strength from his brother’s Helping Hand.

“Neo, Confusion! Novo, Bite!”

They lunged forward. The opposing Trainer bellowed commands, and both Whismur hurled themselves at the empowered Espeon. Novo intercepted a Headbutt from one, staggered briefly, then returned a fierce Bite, fangs tearing into the pink Pokémon. The Whismur’s battle cries turned to shrieks as the Umbreon flung his opponent and sent it rolling through the dirt. The second Whismur failed to reach Neo before it, too, was sent flying from his Confusion attack.

“Switch!” Wes’ voice sounded from behind.

In a synchronized motion, Neo and Novo gracefully moved across the white stones, each one targeting the others’ former opponents. The Whismur struggled to their feet as their Trainer called for another Uproar. The resulting attack screamed through the air, piercing their foes’ ears, but it hardly mattered - the Espeon and Umbreon were already upon them. With a final Bite and Confusion, the Eons sent their foes tumbling backwards. The Whismur rolled to a stop at their Trainer’s feet, and this time they didn’t get back up.

“HAH?!” Trudly roared in fury at his partner, who stood frozen in shock. “Was that the best you could do against some scrap off the street? You’re an embarrassment!”

“You’re no better,” replied Wes dryly. Neo and Novo trotted triumphantly back to him, and he crouched down to rub their ears. Trudly spat a colorful insult at him in response.

“What do we do, Trudly?” The orange-haired man’s eyes were wide with fear as he returned his Pokémon and addressed his partner. “M-maybe we should run-”

“Shut your trap, Folly! Don’t throw around my name here! We can’t have everybody knowin’ who we are!”

“...but you just said my name!”

Trudly blanched. “Aw, hell-”

“What in Arceus’ name is going on here?” A female voice drew everyone’s attention. A middle-aged woman stood a cautious distance away, watching the scene with frightened eyes. A young man in jogging gear walked up beside her, frowning. “I’d like to know that myself!” he said.

Wes stood, staring Trudly and Folly in the eyes as he responded to the people behind him. “These guys are kidnappers,” he said simply. “And thought they could get away with it.”

“What?” The woman cried. “Do you mean - are you sure - oh!” She gasped in horror at the sight of the still wriggling sack.

Folly swore loudly and grabbed Trudly by the arm, hauling him towards the hover truck. “Time to bail, man!” He glowered at Wes, who returned his gaze nonchalantly. “I‘ll remember you, kid!”

Wes smirked. “Aw, how cute.”

The men broke into a sprint and hopped into their truck. The young athlete yelled and started forward, but he only made it a few steps before the truck roared alive and hauled away, plowing recklessly to the city entrance. He turned to Wes in frustration. “We-we have to stop them!”

Wes shook his head. “They’ll be long gone by the time we can give chase. No point in that.”

“Can you boys help me with this knot?” The woman had rushed to the sack and was frantically pulling at the rope tied around its mouth. The young man sprinted over to help, but Wes hesitated. He had half a mind to walk away right then and there - he’d done his duty, after all - but then decided, more out of curiosity than anything else, that he might as well stay to make sure the victim was all right.

The knot was, in fact, relentlessly tight. Even with two people working at it, it refused to give way. Wes brushed them aside and called for Novo, who stepped forward and gnawed at the rope. Within seconds, the rope was severed, and the woman swooped in to open the sack.

Much to Wes’ surprise, a girl burst out of the sack, gasping great gulps of air. Most of her red hair was pulled up into two pigtails, and the rest of it was drenched in sweat and plastered to her face. In fact, she was almost entirely drenched in sweat - not surprising, as Wes couldn’t imagine how hot it must have been inside the stifling burlap.

“Oh, you poor dear!” The woman reached out and pulled the girl’s blue and pink jacket from her shoulders in an attempt to cool her off. “Those monsters, how could they do this to you?”

The girl looked around, taking in her surroundings. She seemed incredibly disoriented. “Wh-where -?” She broke off in a coughing fit. The Phenac woman placed an arm around her shoulders and tutted with concern.

“You poor, poor thing - do either of you have water?” She asked Wes and the boy beside him.

Wes shook his head, but the athlete promptly answered, “I do!” He procured a water bottle from his pack, crouched beside them, and handed it over. The girl, still gasping for air, gave him a weak smile and took it from him. She opened it with shaky hands and raised it to her lips.

“You need to take small sips.” Wes surprised himself by speaking. What did he care? Why had he bothered to stick around this long? Why hadn’t he left already? “You’re probably really dehydrated, so don’t drink it all at once or you’ll make yourself sick.”

The girl gave him a shaky nod and did as he advised, sipping carefully from the bottle. Her hands were trembling so badly that the woman beside her reached out and helped keep them steady. “To answer your question, you’re in Phenac City, dear,” she said kindly. “Would you mind telling us who you are? Perhaps there’s someone we can call for you?”

The girl lowered the water bottle and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “My name is Rui,” she said, her voice now steadying. “Rui Everlin.” She looked between the woman and the boy beside her and smiled at them - a surprisingly genuine one, Wes thought, considering what she had just been through and how badly shaken she was. “Thank you much for saving me...I don’t know how to repay you!”

“Well, we didn’t do much,” admitted the athlete as he rubbed the back of his head. He gestured to Wes. “He’s the one who did all the work and chased those thugs off. It was real impressive, too, you should have seen it!” He gave Wes a look of shining admiration, which made him feel rather uncomfortable.

The girl named Rui looked up at him with shocking, bright blue eyes. She beamed at him with radiant gratitude. “Thank you - thank you so much! And you are?”

Wes paused. Giving out his name to perfect strangers was not on his list of things he wanted to do today - but then again, rescuing a kidnapping victim hadn’t made it on that list, either. “Wes,” he said shortly. He didn’t offer his full name, and was grateful when she didn’t ask for one.

“I’m Dash,” said the young man. He and the woman helped the girl to her feet.

“And you can call me Marla, dear,” said the lady kindly. “But enough about that - we need to get you taken care of. Who can we call for you? Perhaps we can help you get back to wherever you’re from? Oh, we ought to get you to a hospital!”

“No, no, I don’t need a hospital, really!” Rui said. “If - if I can get to a Pokémon Center, I can - wait!” She stopped abruptly and her eyes widened as if she’d just remembered something. She turned to Wes with an urgent expression on her face. “Those men you battled - did they have an unusual Pokémon?”

Wes eyed her warily. Unusual Pokémon? Perhaps the heat had disoriented her? “No.” He shook his head.

Dash frowned and nodded. “They looked like ordinary Whismur to me...”

“You didn’t see a Makuhita?” She looked between the three of them. Wes shook his head again. “Oh...” the girl’s face fell and she looked deeply troubled.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about those - those - thugs any longer, dear,” Marla fussed. “Let’s get you taken to a Pokémon Center and-”

“No, wait!” The girl’s face was urgent. “I need...I need to speak with the mayor!”

“The mayor?” asked Dash. He gave her a baffled look. “Why the mayor?”

“Those men grabbed me because I saw something,” said Rui. “They had a Makuhita and there was something really...really wrong with it. I need to report this to the Mayor so somebody knows about it!”

Marla frowned at her. “I’m not sure what the mayor can do if those people have left town already...”

“They were heading here for something!” Rui said emphatically. Her eyes were wide and pleading. “I think they might come back, and I’m really worried about what they plan to do with that Pokémon!”

Mew above, she’s sure passionate, thought Wes. She was awfully fired up and upset, all for a Pokémon she didn’t even know. What is wrong with this girl?

“The Center is close to the mayor’s house,” offered Dash. “We can take you there after we take you to the mayor, I guess...?”

“Oh, would you? I don’t know this city well, so that would be really helpful!” Rui beamed at the athlete.

“But you ought to take this young man with you!” Marla gestured to Wes. “If those criminals are coming back, you ought to have someone with strong Pokémon.”

“No,” Wes said shortly. “I have places to be.” He’d taken far too many detours today already.

Marla gave him a pleading look. “Oh, but if those men come back for her...I don’t have my own Pokémon, you see, or I would take her...”

Dash rubbed the back of his head. “W-well, I do have my Castform,” he said. “He’s not a battler, exactly, but...maybe...”

They all looked at him hopefully. Even Neo was looking up at his Trainer with pleading eyes. Traitor, thought Wes sourly. Do you want to get to Gateon or not?

A low, harsh, eerily familiar voice rang inside Wes’ head. Sticking your neck out for people is what gets you killed, it snarled. Don’t be a fool, boy.

Right. He didn’t have time for this.

But then he noticed Novo, practical though he was, shift uncomfortably and look up at him. Never once had his Pokémon led him astray. For all the survival instincts Wes’ upbringing had drilled into him, he would always trust his Pokémon, his family, more than anything else.

Wes was done in. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long-suffering sigh. “Fine.”

Neo chirrupped happily and Marla beamed at him approvingly. “You’re such a kind gentleman!”

I’m definitely not.

“Oh, thank you, thank you so much!” Rui bounded up to him, and for one terrifying second he thought she might hug him. Don’t touch me. He was immensely relieved that she didn’t.

“That’s really generous of you, man,” said Dash. He looked relieved. “Maybe we can all go together-”

“No.” Arceus forbid Wes get saddled with more unnecessary distractions today. He quickly thought of an excuse. “You two should go to the Town Hall and report this incident. Make sure authorities know about what happened.” Not that it will do much, he thought to himself. The only “authorities” in Phenac City were the staff at the Town Hall, and they could do little more than raise awareness and alert the citizens.

Dash nodded. “Alright, good plan.”

He and Marla said their goodbyes. Dash left his water bottle with Rui, claiming she needed it more than he did and that he had plenty more where it came from. Rui thanked him and Marla generously for their help, and the two set off in the direction of Town Hall.

Rui turned to Wes with a bright smile. “I’ll let you lead the way, then!”

Her bubbly demeanor absolutely baffled him. What kind of person could smile so easily after being kidnapped, for crying out loud? Wes shook his head slightly and sighed again - he’d been doing that an awful lot today, it seemed. “It’s this way. Let’s go.” He didn’t even wait for her to respond before setting off in the direction of the mayor’s house, Neo and Novo trotting faithfully in tow.

It was already looking to be a long day.

Sunlight streamed down on the whitewashed streets and sparkling fountains, and there was no respite from the blinding brightness as Wes and his Pokémon walked with Rui to the mayor's home. The girl noticed this, as she commented for what must have been the fourth time on how beautiful the city was.

"I haven't been to Phenac in a long time, but it's even more beautiful than I remember!" she said in awe. "It's so lovely!"

Wes shot her a look. "So you have been here before."

"Not for years," she said. She still wore a small smile on her face as she talked. "I was just a kid the last time I was here." Her attention shifted to the Eeveelutions striding at Wes' side. "What are their names?" she asked lightly.

"The Espeon is Neo, and the Umbreon is Novo," he said. She already knew his own name, so he figured the names of his Pokémon were inconsequential information to give out at this point.

"They're beautiful Pokémon!" Rui exclaimed, admiring Novo's sleek black coat. Neo looked over his shoulder and chirped happily at the compliment. He was always pleased to be acknowledged. Rui giggled and looked back up at Wes. "So...Wes, was it? Where are you from?"

"Nowhere, really."

"Oh? Did you move around a lot?"

"...Yeah."

"That's so fascinating! I've only ever lived in the same town my whole life, so I haven't been to many places."

Obviously, Wes thought dryly.

"So was there a reason for you moving so much? Was it for your parents' work?" Those blue eyes sparkled excitedly as she talked to him.

Too many questions. Nervousness flitted about in his chest. She was entirely too curious, and every question was making him feel more and more threatened.

The familiar, growly voice rang in his head again. The best lies are half-truths, boy.

"I sort of...grew up on the streets, actually," he answered hesitantly.

Rui's eyes widened and the brightness vanished from her eyes. "Oh." She dropped her gaze to the ground. "Oh. I'm...I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

An awkward pause. Taking advantage of the silence to divert the attention away from himself, Wes curtly asked, "And you?"

"Oh, I'm from Agate Village!" She looked up at him again, appearing relieved to be talking about something else. "It's absolutely beautiful there - have you ever been?"

"No."

"Well, you should definitely visit sometime. It's completely different from anywhere else in Orre!"

How would you know?

He was momentarily saved from the agonizing small talk as they rounded a corner and the marketplace came into view. Open-air shops under white canopies lined both sides of the street and offered a wide variety of products that could be found nowhere else in Orre; fresh fruit, imported goods, and a wide variety of fabrics, amongst other things. Vendors, citizens and tourists alike bustled from one booth to the next, and the air was buzzing with snippets of conversation here and there.

"Aguav berries! Hondew berries! Come and get your exotic berries here!"

"How much for this bag?"

"Forty Poké? That's entirely too much, I won't go above thirty!"

"..Wow," Rui breathed in amazement. She quietly soaked in the scene for a moment as they walked, and Wes breathed a sigh of gratitude for the reprieve. It didn't last long, however, because soon she was tugging on Wes' sleeve. "Hey, do you think they'll have Pokeballs here?"

Wes raised an eyebrow at her. Pokeballs? This girl was just getting weirder and weirder by the minute. "Phenac doesn't sell Pokeballs anywhere."

Rui sighed in disappointment. "They didn't have them in Pyrite, either..."

"Pyrite?" Wes asked in disbelief. He glanced at her outfit; she wore a frilly pink and blue jacket over a dark purple tank top, a white pencil skirt, and pink rubber boots. He had a hard time picturing this girl, neatly dressed and put together as she was, wandering the ragged streets of Pyrite. Not to mention that her bubbly disposition would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Yeah." Rui clasped her hands behind her back and kicked idly at a pebble as they walked. "That's where I was when those two thugs..." She trailed off, a troubled expression overtaking her face.

"That's where you got kidnapped," finished Wes bluntly. That didn't surprise him in the least. Pyrite was not known for its upstanding citizens, after all.

Rui nodded, her gaze still fixed on the sidewalk.

"So, let me get this straight. You're not a trainer. Yet you left your hometown and wandered to Pyrite Town, of all places, to look for Pokeballs...in a region that doesn't have wild Pokemon."

Rui gave a weak laugh and looked at Wes with a wan smile. "Well, when you put it like that, it sounds pretty dumb. But that's the truth, I promise."

"Well, what in Mew's name do you need Pokeballs for?"

"It's for my grandpa," she said. "He's a former Ace Trainer, and he's been teaching some of the kids in our village about becoming trainers."

"Pokeballs are useless if there aren't Pokémon to catch them with," said Wes dryly.

"Well, you see, Papi - my grandpa - he's hopeful!" Some of the brightness had returned to Rui's eyes. "There have been rumors of wild Pokemon sightings around the area up north, so he thinks they might be migrating back into the region!"

"But those are just rumors," he said. "There's no way they're true."

Rui smirked at him. "Quite an optimist, aren't you?" she asked wryly.

Wes was saved from having to answer that as the mayor's home finally came into view. "We're here," he said flatly, and proceeded to walk up the steps. He could hear Rui giggling behind him at his dodging her remark, and he chose to ignore it.

True to the atmosphere of Phenac City, the mayor's house held nothing back in terms of extravagance. While not incredibly large in terms of height, it made up for that by sprawling impressively in either direction, showcasing large, gleaming windows and ornate carvings all over the exterior. The front steps led to a wide porch lined with bright white pillars, and the blue double-doors were a sight to behold. Even if Wes hadn't known this to be the mayor's home, it would have been easy to guess.

Of course, the bright banner that stretched across the pillars and read "MAYOR ES-CADE WELCOMES YOU!" was also a slight giveaway.

Rui looked the building up and down with awe. "Are you sure we can just...knock?" she asked in almost a whisper. Wes merely shrugged. He'd never bothered to visit this place himself.

Rui seemed to take this as a yes, as she stepped forward and knocked boldly on the metal doors. Apparently, being kidnapped hadn't done much to diminish her enthusiasm.

After a brief pause, the doors creaked open and a tall, crisply dressed man with fiery red hair stood before them. He looked down at them with a penetrating gaze. "What is your business?"

"We wish to speak to the mayor, please," said Rui. She met his eyes evenly despite the man's intimidating presence. "It's urgent."

Wes half expected them to be turned away, but the man simply nodded. He eyed the Umbreon and Espeon at Wes' feet. "No Pokémon indoors here. Security policy." Wes begrudgingly returned the Eons to their Pokeballs, and they were escorted through the doors.

The cool air inside was a welcome relief from the relentless desert heat. A sparkling crystal chandelier greeted them from overhead, sending multicolored glints of light off the pristine marble walls. A massive flatscreen TV was mounted above a fireplace to their left, and to their right was a handful of plush couches. Straight ahead was a sleek wooden desk, at which sat the mayor of Phenac.

Wes had never seen the mayor personally before, and quickly surmised that he hadn't missed out on much. The man was short - very short - and, like his house, made up for it in terms of width. He was as round as a Jigglypuff, with a puffy mustache and bushy eyebrows to match. His head, though mostly bald, sported two large tufts of gray hair on each side.

"Welcome, welcome!" boomed the mayor. He beamed at them through beady eyes that seemed as though they were stuck in a perpetual squint.

Rui stepped forward and gave a small, polite bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Mayor."

"Oh, please, call me Es-Cade, my dear!" The man chortled. He rose from his seat and walked around to the front of his desk, gesturing them to the couches. "Please, sit! I insist."

Rui did as requested and took a seat. Wes would have much preferred to stand, but upon seeing the mayor's inquisitive look, he sat with a quiet sigh.

"Eldes, would you please fetch our guests some tea?" Es-Cade pleasantly addressed the red-haired man that stood stoically by the front doors. The man gave a curt nod and strode through an exit at the back of the room.

"Now, what do they call you, my dear?" The portly man turned back to Rui.

"I'm Rui, sir. Rui Everlin."

"I see!" Es-Cade said. He looked at Wes. "And you, my good man?"

"Wes." The mayor continued to look at him, as if expecting more, so he sighed. "Wesley Lycas."

"Excellent!" He beamed again. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you both?"

Rui hesitated. Wes gave her a pointed look. This was your idea, not mine. She cleared her throat. "Well, you see, Mr...Es-Cade, it's not exactly good news."

Es-Cade's smile faded to a concerned frown. His bushy eyebrows knotted together. "Oh?"

Rui shifted nervously before continuing. "You see, sir, I'm here to report an incident. I was brought to this city because...because I was kidnapped."

"Good heavens!" The mayor's eyes widened as far as his beady face would allow. "Are you quite alright?"

"Yes, I am, thanks to Wes." Rui gave the rogue trainer a grateful smile before turning back to Es-Cade. "But...that's not the whole reason I'm here."

She paused and looked at the floor, as if trying to find the words to continue. "You see, sir, I know this will sound strange and you might not believe me, but...I was born with a gift. That gift allows me to see the auras of people and Pokémon."

Es-Cade's eyebrows shot up an inch or two, and Wes didn't even bother to mask his disbelief as he stared at her. Auras? That did it. Not only had he happened to rescue the most clueless girl in all of Orre, she was also certifiably insane.

"Well, I won't pretend that this isn't...very hard to believe, my dear," said the mayor after a pregnant pause. "Are you certain about this...this gift of yours?"

Rui nodded, her face resolute. "I've had this gift for as long as I can remember, sir. I've always been able to see aura."

"Very well," he mused. He raised a meaty hand and rubbed his chin. "Go on."

"Well, I was traveling through Pyrite when I saw these two men. One of them had a Makuhita and was battling another trainer. I don't know how to explain it, but...there was something wrong with that Pokémon. Its aura was...dark. I'd even say it was evil." She shivered. Her face was solemn and fearful as she recalled the memory.

"And you've never seen this, erm, aura before?" Es-Cade asked.

Rui shook her head. "No, sir, never. I've seen auras of many different kinds, but not like that."

"Could it be, perhaps, that you've never encountered an aggressive Pokémon?"

"With all due respect, Mr. Mayor, I've seen aggressive Pokémon before." Rui's voice took on a stern tone as she raised her head and looked Es-Cade in the eyes. "This Makuhita was something completely different. And the way it battled was...horrible. It really looked like it wanted to kill the other Pokémon."

Wes sat back in his seat, absorbing all this new information. This girl was clearly sheltered - that had been obvious from the beginning. He, unfortunately, had seen Pokémon kill on command more than once. Like humans, not every Pokémon was willing to kill, but there were still those who were more than willing - and plenty capable of doing so. It was certainly not unheard of, and something that was all too common in Orre's crime rings.

He wondered if the mayor was thinking the same thing, as the man had a skeptical expression on his face as he listened to Rui's story. "You do know that Pokémon can and do sometimes kill other Pokémon, my dear?" he asked gently.

"I know that!" Rui said in frustration. "I do! But they only do so if commanded, right? Well, this Makuhita was on a rampage and was acting of its own accord - its trainer couldn't even stop it!"

"I see, I see," Es-Cade backed down slightly upon seeing her frustration. "That is very concerning, Miss Everlin. I can assure you that I will assign some of my staff to look into the matter - although, if this Pokémon is in Pyrite, there's only so much I can do."

"I...I understand," Rui sighed. She relaxed a little and slumped back in her seat.

Es-Cade seemed to notice her disappointment. "Do you perhaps have a description of the criminals?" he asked kindly. "I can also try to put out a search for them, and see what we can come up with - ah!" His eyes brightened as the doorman reentered the room with a tray of tea. "Perfect timing, my good man! Thank you kindly!"

The man said nothing, only depositing the tray on the coffee table in front of them before resuming his post by the doors.

Wes didn't trust drinks from strangers, so he quietly declined his tea. Rui and Es-Cade sipped theirs as she gave him a description of the two men. Wes only spoke up to give their names and a description of their other Pokémon he'd seen. He noticed Es-Cade raise his eyebrows as he spoke of the two Whismur; the odd fact that Wes hadn't seen a Makuhita was not lost on him, apparently, and it likely contributed to his doubt. The man said nothing of it, however.

Once Rui had given all the information they knew, the mayor kindly thanked them for their visit and personally showed them out the door with a smile, promising her that he would look into the case at once.

As the doors shut behind them, Wes couldn't help but feel that they had just wasted a massive amount of time. Rui must have sensed this, too, because he noticed she was staring at the ground with slumped shoulders as they walked to the Pokémon Center.

He released Neo and Novo from their Pokeballs. They both stretched and gleefully bounced around Wes' feet, happy to be outside again.

Rui brightened a little at the sight of the Pokémon. She giggled as Neo brushed playfully up against her legs, then looked up at Wes with a sheepish expression. "You probably think I'm crazy, huh?"

Wes shrugged. "Maybe a little." No point in sugar-coating things.

"Well, you don't have to believe me, but I promise I'm telling the truth." Rui glanced at the Eons walking ahead of them. "For example, I can tell by your Pokémons' auras that they are happy and well cared for. They really love and trust you...and it's part of the reason I knew I'd be safe walking with you." She grinned at him.

Wes decided it wasn't worth pointing out that she could have deduced this from Neo and Novo's evolutions - Espeon and Umbreon only got their evolutions from bonding with their trainer, after all. Instead, he shrugged again and said, "It makes no difference to me. You saw something and reported it, and now you can move on."

Rui bit her lip, but said nothing. Whatever she'd seen in Pyrite - or whatever she'd thought she'd seen - was obviously weighing heavily on her, and their fruitless meeting with the mayor had done little to help with that.

Not my problem, Wes told himself. He'd done more than enough for this random girl today, and wasn't about to take it upon himself to cheer her up. He wouldn't even know where to start, anyway.

Wes was about to head in the direction of the Center when he noticed Rui stop short. What now? He followed her alarmed gaze to what she was staring at and suddenly he, too, stopped walking.

Someone was heading their way. Whoever this person was, they were massively tall, dwarfing every other passerby on the street. Wes saw the long, flowing silver hair and initially thought it was a woman, but as the stranger came closer it was apparent by the square jaw and bulging, muscular figure that it was a man. But the hair was not what kept his attention; there was something visibly wrong with this stranger.

He exuded an air of cold, crisp, precise cruelty as he walked. Wes had seen his share of men drunk with power who thought they had it all - but this man knew he was in charge and was keenly aware of his own authority. The stranger passed them on the sidewalk, but not before turning his head to glance at them. Wes met the man's eyes for just a second and felt a chill trickle down his spine.

His eyes were red as blood.

A cruel smirk played across the stranger's lips before he turned away and breezed past them in the direction they came from, head held high, eyes straight ahead.

Wes felt Rui step close to him. He noticed she was shivering. "He was...scary," she whispered.

Wes couldn't help but nod in agreement. He was immensely grateful that such a person was only a stranger and nothing more. He had a feeling he would never want to tangle with that man.

He shook his head and rolled the uneasiness from his shoulders. "Center's just up ahead," he said to Rui. "Let's get inside." She nodded nervously, and the two set off for the wide white steps leading to their destination.

The Phenac Pokemon Center was an impressive sight, even to Wes. He had only been here a handful of times, and he was always just as amazed each time as he was upon his first visit. His negative impression of Phenac and it's population aside, he had to admit: they knew how to treat their Pokémon.

The building was a large dome with white gleaming walls and a sparkling glass ceiling. At the back of the room, straight ahead from the entrance, was a marble counter in front of a healing machine and a crisply dressed nurse who chimed a cheerful greeting as they walked through the doors.

To the right, a luxurious lounge for trainers held a TV, plush couches, a small snack bar, and ornate bookshelves adorned with all kinds of literature. A row of video-call booths lined the wall near the shelves.

To the left was an enclosed, glass-walled play area for Pokémon. Wes knew from previous visits that the play area extended through a door in the wall to a larger, fenced-in outdoor area. He'd never used it himself, though - the thought of leaving his Pokémon in someone else's hands was mortifying to him.

"Welcome!" The nurse smiled at them from her place behind the counter. "How may I help you today?"

Rui stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back as she addressed the nurse. "Y-yes, um, could I use your video phones?"

"Absolutely! Right this way, I'll get you started..."

The nurse escorted Rui to the phones and Wes wandered over to the couches to sit and wait. Novo followed, looking around with great interest; he, too, always appeared to be impressed with the place whenever they visited.

"Espi!" Neo pawed at Wes' knee and pointed his snout over to the play area, where an Aipom had its face pressed against the glass, wiggling its tail playfully at the Espeon.

Wes shook his head. "Sorry, bud," he said quietly. "We don't have time today."

Neo sat on the tiled floor with a sigh.

"Tell you what," Wes lowered his voice even further as he reached down to rub Neo's ears. "When we get to Johto, you can play with tons of wild Pokémon every day. How does that sound?" Neo pricked up his ears and kneaded the floor in excitement. "Spi!"

Johto. Wes had only heard stories of it, but it sounded like a beautiful place, so entirely different from the sandy Orre region. He'd heard about green forests that stretched as far as the eye could see, of giant shining lakes, of mountains that stretched so high you couldn't see their peaks. He'd dreamed of seeing it from the moment he first learned of its existence.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Soon. Very soon. Just be patient.

Novo hopped into his lap and he idly stroked the Umbreon's head, lost in thought, until Rui returned and sank onto the couch a short distance away from him with a sigh. Novo growled softly at her abrupt appearance, a quiet rumble that only Wes could hear.

"Well, my grandparents are happy to know I'm safe, but that didn't save me a tongue lashing from Nan." She turned to him. "They're so grateful to you, by the way. I'm sure they'd love to meet you if you'd like to visit!"

"Sorry, I have other places to be," Wes muttered. There would be absolutely no more detours until they reached Gateon.

"Oh, I...I figured as much," replied Rui. There was a note of disappointment in her voice. "Well, you're always welcome if you -"

She broke off suddenly, her eyes fixed on something over Wes' shoulder. He turned his head to see what had grabbed her attention and saw footage of a burning building on the TV. The words MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION REVEALS SNAGEM HIDEOUT flashed across the screen.

"What - when did this happen?" She breathed in disbelief.

"You're just now finding this out?" Wes blurted. Surely, sheltered though this girl was, she'd have heard something about it already. He was certain that news of the incident had traveled across every corner of the region by now. Uncovering Snagem's hideout would be earth-shattering news.

Rui surprised him by throwing him a withering look. "Yes, I'm hearing about it just now," she said scathingly. "It's not like I've spent the last twenty-four hours in a sack or anything!"

"...oh." Wes suddenly felt incredibly stupid. "Right...sorry."

Rui returned her gaze to the TV. "I can't believe..." she trailed off and didn't bother to finish her sentence. Wes left her to her thoughts and continued stroking Novo's fur, watching his yellow rings pulse with light.

"They deserve it."

He looked up in surprise at those words. Rui was still watching the screen, but a dark expression had taken over her features. It was a jarring change from her usually smiling face.

"You think so?" Wes asked.

She turned her eyes to his, and he was shocked at the amount of pure hatred he saw there. "Yes," she said quietly. "I hate Pokémon thieves. Snagem had this coming, and they deserve a whole lot worse."

Wes looked at her for a moment before answering. "I agree," he said quietly.

"Umbriiiiii," Novo's whine broke the tense moment. Wes heard the Umbreon's stomach growl, and suddenly realized how hungry he was, too. He rubbed Novo's ear. "I guess it's time we go, then."

Novo leapt off Wes' lap as he stood. He turned to Rui. "The nurses can help you arrange a ride with someone from here. You should be able to make it back to Agate that way."

Rui stood, too, and bowed her head to him gratefully, hands clasped behind her back once again. "Thank you for everything you've done for me, Wes. Really. I don't have any way to repay you for it, but...I really am gratef-"

Her stomach suddenly rumbled loudly, and she flushed a little in embarrassment. "Sorry!"

Wes narrowed his eyes at her. "Did you say you were in that sack for a whole day?"

She shifted a little. "Well, I don't know exactly how long it was, but it was a long time..."

Wes took a closer look at her. For all her smiles and cheerfulness, he noticed for the first time that she was still a little pale, and her fingers were shaky as she fidgeted with her necklace. "You haven't eaten."

Rui gave him another smile, but this time he was paying enough attention to see how forced it was. "It's fine! You've done more than enough for me today, I can...figure something out..." she trailed off, not looking very convinced at her own words.

She could figure it out, Wes mused to himself. And yet...he had gone long stretches without food before. He knew firsthand how unpleasant it was, and he was certain that this girl had no means of getting food for herself. There was no way she still had any money on her after being kidnapped.

The low voice came into his head again. Remember this, boy. Don't stick your neck out for nobody.

Anger burned in his chest at the intrusive voice. You don't get to tell me what to do. Not anymore.

"Alright," he sighed, turning to leave. "Come on." He gestured for her to follow him.

"What? Where-?"

"We were going to find a place to eat, anyway. You might as well come with us." He looked at her over his shoulder. "But after this, you'll really be on your own. Got it?"

"I - what do you - I don't - are you sure?" Rui spluttered.

"If you don't hurry up, I'll change my mind."

Rui blinked at him, and for a moment Wes thought he saw tears in her eyes. He turned his head away and hoped to Arceus he was mistaken. He had no idea what to do with people when they cried...

Rui bounced up to his side. "Where to, then?" she asked brightly. Any indication that she'd been teary had quickly vanished.

"I've got a place in mind," he said. And with that, they strode through the Center doors back into the sunlight.

---

Wes couldn't help but feel mildly impressed at the speed with which Rui was devouring her burger. It made him wonder just how hungry she must have been this whole time.

His restaurant of choice was closer to the edge of town; a small, dingy, hole-in-the-wall kind of place that he'd always preferred thanks to their low prices and low profile. By Phenac standards, it was "seedy", but compared to the Outskirt Stand, it may as well have been fine dining. The blue painted walls and tiled floor, though scuffed in many places, certainly made it feel a lot cleaner than the dusty old train car.

His Pokémon were happily eating their kibble from bowls on the floor. It was no plate of bacon, but it was better than nothing, and far better than what they had been accustomed to at Snagem.

A waiter stopped by to offer drinks, which Wes declined. He'd need to be fully alert for their journey ahead - though, after the long events of the day, alcohol did seem tempting.

The waiter turned to Rui, but she also shook her head. "Not today, thank you."

The waiter left, and Wes narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you even old enough to drink?"

Rui nearly choked on her fries. "Wha-excuse me?" she asked indignantly as soon as she could speak, "I'll have you know, I'm well over eighteen!"

He raised an eyebrow. "By what, a few months?"

Rui huffed at him. "I'm twenty-one, Wes."

Oh. He was genuinely surprised at that. She was much closer to his age than he'd originally thought, only a year younger than himself. "Sorry. You just look younger."

"I get that a lot, actually," she said dejectedly. She picked at what remained of her food.

"It's the pigtails. Probably."

Rui looked up at him with a sly grin. "Well what about you, Mr. Tough Guy? You don't look much older than seventeen."

Wes, who had been taking a sip of water at this exact moment, suddenly choked and spluttered on his drink. "I - what - seven-?" He stopped short when he saw that Rui had burst into a fit of laughter.

He scowled at her. "That's not funny."

For some reason, this only made her laugh even harder. She gripped the table for support, tears leaking out of her eyes. Neo and Novo looked up at her in alarm from their meal and Wes began to feel uncomfortable as heads turned in their direction. Why was this girl so loud?

"S-sorry," she gasped as her laughter subsided. "I honestly didn't think I'd get a reaction out of you, with you being so stoic and all, but that was funny."

Wes grumbled darkly under his breath. Rui snorted and bit her lip in an effort to keep herself from laughing further. Her face held a lot more color now that she'd eaten, and she was, if possible, even more lively than before.

Having finished their meal, Wes stood. "Let's go." Rui and his Pokémon followed him as he paid for the meal at the counter up front and stepped outside.

The sun was horrifyingly low in the sky, and Wes inwardly groaned at the sight. They were behind schedule, but no matter - they'd be on the road soon enough, and all their troubles with Phenac (girl included) would be left behind.

"Briiiii!" Novo yawned and stretched happily in the sunlight, his yellow markings glowing contentedly. Neo padded up between Wes and Rui and let out a soft burp. He blinked sleepily up at his Trainer with a lazy purr.

The corners of Wes' mouth twitched into a smile upon seeing them so content and peaceful. For the first time since escaping the hideout, he allowed himself to relax a little. All that was left to do was stock up on some supplies and hit the road now. It should be smooth sailing from here, he thought.

And then he heard a voice that turned his blood to ice.

"Keep your wits about you, ya hear? He's in this blasted city somewhere."

Wes swore under his breath and grabbed Rui by the arm, pulling her around the building into a side alley. She squawked in protest. "Wes, what're you-hey!"

He ignored her and listened closely. He heard the rough cadence of three all too familiar voices across the street, causing his heart to race.

How to get out of this without raising suspicion? He looked at the redhead. If she found out who she was...he remembered her face in the Center as she spoke about Snagem. The anger in her eyes, the righteous fury. There was no way she would let him off if she knew. Not a chance.

"Are we sure he's still here?" another voice drawled from where the first one had come from, just across the street. Wes turned his head to listen.

"Shut your trap and quit whining!" the first voice barked. "The faster we get moving, the sooner we'll find the damned rat."

There was no mistaking that gravelly voice. Wes had heard it all too many times before, usually before facing an unpleasant punishment. Wakin, Gonzap's second-in-command, had always loved to dole out the punishments himself whenever he could. Wes glanced nervously at the metal sleeve on his arm.

If Wakin found Wes now, he was a dead man.

Wes' mind raced. He scrambled to think of a way to get out of this city without setting off Rui's suspicions. He certainly couldn't tell her what was going on, nor could he merely bolt away - what if she started shouting? Caused a scene? Drew attention from those menacing voices across the street...?

A crazy, half-baked idea occurred to him, and he tightened his grip on Rui's arm as he looked back at her again. She was apparently oblivious to the conversation taking place across the street and seemed much more concerned with Wes' odd behavior and his grip on her arm. He decided to take a chance on her naivety.

"Hey. You said you needed Pokeballs, right?"

"Y-yeah?" Rui attempted to tug her arm out of his grip. She looked frightened. "Wes, can you let go of me?"

"Sorry," he said quickly. He released her and took a step back. Breathe. You need to stay calm. He met her blue gaze evenly. "I know a place where we can get you some. I just thought of it."

Rui frowned at him. "You do?"

"Yeah, but it's...not here. It's a bit of a drive. But I can take you there." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he even had time to think them through.

"That...that would be really helpful! But I don't have any money -"

"Don't worry about it." Damn, he was panicking. Stay calm. Don't show fear. "I'll cover for you. But we need to get going now if we want to make it there at a decent hour."

"Are-are you sure? You've done so much for me today already-"

"I'm sure, let's go." He almost grabbed her by the arm again to drag her with him, but remembered the fearful look she'd given him and decided against it. "Come on, I'll show you to my bike."

He stepped cautiously out of the alleyway, looking around for any sign of Wakin and his grunts. Rui stood a few paces behind him, mumbling in confusion. "Bike...?"

"Neo. Novo." Wes kept his voice to barely more than a whisper. They pricked their ears and stood at attention. "Keep a lookout."

He motioned for Rui to follow him, and they stepped out into the open.

Wes was sure that Rui would hear his heart trying to escape from his chest. He hated having to walk in the open, hated that he couldn't move any faster than a brisk walk, but he knew that darting through the shadows would only raise her suspicions. He could not afford to be caught. Not now. Not like this.

He was grateful that they had at least made it to the edge of the city already for their lunch. They were able to reach the city entrance relatively quickly and made it to his bike shortly after that.

Rui looked at his monstrosity of a vehicle with wide eyes. "Okay, when you said 'bike', I had a very different image in my head," she said as she took in the massive engine and rusty exterior.

Wes didn't bother to reply to this remark. He'd crouched down to his Pokémon and was muttering a hurried apology. "Sorry guys, but there isn't room for all of you in the sidecar. You're gonna have to go in your balls for now."

Neither Neo nor Novo were very pleased with this arrangement, but he didn't have time to reason with them before returning them to their Pokeballs. They would get over it. What mattered now was getting as far away from this city as possible.

Wes gestured for Rui to get in the sidecar as he slid into the driver's seat. She climbed in awkwardly and nearly fell over in the process.

The engine bellowed as he brought it to life. He thought he heard Rui trying to say something, but couldn't be sure. Rather than wait to find out, he slammed on the gas and the motorbike lurched forward, kicking up a cloud of dust as they flew out of sight and left the blinding white city behind.