Michael stood on the field of battle, locked in combat.
"Salamence, use Earthquake!" he commanded. His Salamence heeded the command, knocking the Metagross down to low health. The Metagross retaliated with a Sludge Bomb that hardly dealt damage. Michael repeated his Earthquake, and beat his opponent.
MICHAEL defeated SIM TRAINER LOSTEN!
"Wow, Michael, I'm impressed," Professor Krane said. This was Michael's first simulation that Krane personally watched. "You fought like Salamence was Springtime there. Though… don't you feel you should use other Pokémon beside Springtime?"
"Not really. Doesn't Mum use one?"
"No, two. Togetic, remember?"
"Oh… Then yeah, I might consider a second. You can go back to work now."
Professor Krane left, and Michael sent out his Eevee, Springtime.
"How do you feel about a new friend?"
"You have my attention."
"Yeah… but what?"
"Michael, come with me," Professor Krane suddenly said.
"What is it?" Michael asked.
"Your mother has just informed me that one of our projects has been completed."
"Here you go, Michael. I want you to have this," Michael's mother said, with a sad smile. She held out a machine. Michael took it, and it latched itself onto his left arm. He looked between his Battle Brace and this new device.
"This is a Snag Machine, rather like the one your father wore. However, in the case of a theft, it will refuse to work on Shadow Pokémon," Professor Krane said. Michael's mother burst into tears.
"Oh… sorry."
"That's alright… I just… Wes, why did you have to go?" Michael's mother asked. Michael uncertainly put his arm on his mother's shoulder, calming her down.
Goddess, it doesn't take much to set her off these days, Summer commented,
"Hey, Wes was a fine Trainer to serve under. I'm sad to see him gone too," Winter added. He looked at Summer, who had seized up.
"Mom? What is it?" Springtime asked.
It's Cipher! They're here!
Aidan, one of the lab's assistants, gave Michael a few Pokéballs, and assisted in the evacuation of all but Michael, his mother, and Professor Krane.
"Hello there, Rui. It's nice to see you again. But as much as I'd like to take you, I'm here for Professor Krane."
"Hah! You'll have to get past me."
SPY NAPS would like to battle!
SPY NAPS sent out DUSTOX and HUNTAIL!
PKMN TRAINER RUI sent out Summer and TOGETIC!
Togetic used a Magical Leaf on Huntail, while Summer used Psychic on Dustox.
SPY NAPS sent out TEDDIURSA!
Michael's eyes narrowed. Teddiursa was a Shadow Pokémon, which he promptly Snagged.
RUI defeated SPY NAPS!
"A Snag Machine? But I thought we had the only one!"
"It doesn't matter. Grab the Professor and run!" The biggest Peon did so, knocking down Rui and Michael.
"Rui, Michael, are you alright?" Aidan asked. Rui looked up, to still see Cipher's truck in the distance.
"…There was a Shadow Pokémon. Cancel our appointments, we need to devote maximum attention to the Purify Chamber! Michael, can you get a crucial part from Gateon Port?"
Michael took a look at the Snag Machine on his arm, and then Springtime. He looked into Rui's eyes, and nodded.
"I promise you, Mom… I will help you defeat Cipher!"
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" a thug asked Michael. Through his trusty scooter, he had arrived in Gateon Part, and accidentally bumped into this fellow. In a roaring rage, he sent out a Shadow Zangoose. My eyes narrowed, and a Snag Ball was in my hand…
"Enough, ruffian. Son, may you?" a stout old man stated. He pointed to his blue-haired bodyguard, who sent out an Alakazam and KOed it.
"…Thank you, I guess…" Michael said.
"What's wrong, little boy?" the old man asked.
"I was going to Snag that Shadow."
"Oh… Shadow Pokémon? Like what Cipher did ten years ago? I must get the word out. Ardos, Eldes, may you assist me?"
"Of course, Father."
"Your words are our desires."
Michael watched the three figures walk into the distance, before continuing on his errand.
"So sorry, buddy, but both of our shop proprietors have left on important business."
"Shame."
"Oh, but is that an Eevee you have?" the man asked. "I've recently visited a faraway region, Sinnoh or somewhere, and I found this mysterious rock. A woman told me that if an Eevee was to be exposed to it, it would evolve. I took a sample of this rock, and I've been dying to see if it's true."
"Springtime, are you willing to try?"
"…OK."
What? Springtime is evolving!
Time stood still, as Eevee turned from a dark brown to a light brown. Leaves begun to spring all over her, even in place of fur.
Congratulations! Your Springtime evolved into LEAFEON!
"Wow… I've never heard of this Pokémon."
"Me neither… but I look cuter, right."
"Yeah, kinda…"
"Sorry I was out so long. The name's Perr. Whatcha looking for?"
"A part ordered by the Pokémon HQ Lab."
"Got it right here. Now, I'd get that back."
"Hello, Michael. How has your journey served you?"
"Well enough. Springtime evolved!" Michael sent it out.
"Oh, it's so cute… but I've never seen it before."
"Yeah… so, what do we do about the Shadow Pokémon?"
"Well, we need to make the Pokémon sufficiently friendly, and then we need to conduct a purification ritual. We could use the Agate Shrine, or we can conduct them here… but first, we need to finish this Chamber."
Michael nodded. He headed out to begin his quest.
Meet possibly the craziest/stupidest idea for a story concept: Leafeon? Fully playable in Gen 3?
With that, I have a slight issue. For obvious reasons, Leafeon images that fit XD's formatting are next to nonexistent, thanks to there being nothing that can at least give me Battle Revolution models and icons. For this reason, I apologise in advance for the splashes.
This story, like A Tale of Two Geniuses, will lie to you in it's interface until the story is finished. Before you think that this means this story will be abandoned: the ending to this story is one I'm looking forward to. I'm sticking with this story.
Well, let's dive into another story with next to impossible PMTs.