Chapter 1: Lu, Willie and a Mysterious Truck:

When we arrive at Outskirt Stand, the closest thing to a mini-hotel in all of Orre, I notice a hover truck with a sack in the back. I put the Snag Gauntlet on my left arm after dismounting and dismiss the sack, even though Espeon goes over to the hover truck and tests the air around it with the gem on her forehead. I then go to the ramp that extends to the door of the train car that serves as a hotel, restaurant and bar at the same time. But two shady guys come down it, one with dark yellow hair covered by a blue hat and the other with a yellow Mohawk with red tips.

"We sure pigged out huh? I love chowing down after a job! That's the best food I've had in a long time!"

"Yep, and we bagged ourselves a huge catch this time! And the Boss will reward us just as hugely, I'm betting!" the blue hatted guy gets in the driver's side, Mohawk gets in shot gun and they drive off to the west. Espeon looks after the truck with anger in her eyes, but follows me and Umbreon into the train car. As soon as I enter with two Eeveelutions, everybody looks at me, and the bartender turns on the TV that is mounted on the wall next to the bar. It just so happens to be the news interrupting a coffee shop soap opera.

"Attention people of Orre! Authorities have just discovered a blown-up building in Eclo Canyon that is believed to be Team Snagem's Hideout. Unfortunately, when police got there, the ruined building was already abandoned. It is unknown how or why the building was destroyed. That is all." The news then went back to the soap opera. As the bartender turned the TV volume down, everyone there talks about who would do that to the Team, and that Team Snagem deserved it. Damn right they did. Why the hell didn't I do this sooner? But my thoughts are interrupted when my Pokémon rub their tails against my legs.

"What can I do for you three?" the bartender asks.

"Cheeseburger and Sprite for me, a plate of Poké food and water for them." He nods as he laughs. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, just that any other person your age wouldn't know what he wants off the bat. I'm Lu, and you better get a seat quick. My regulars will be showing up soon." Lu then gets on making the three orders and I quickly take the first open seat. Even though it happens to be by the door, I don't mind. "Yo, Pink Hair! Get your butt over here!" I hear Lu shout this, but choose to ignore it, even when a pink haired guy walks past my table and to the bar.

"You've changed so much so quickly since deciding to abandon that awful Team." Espeon says after our food comes. I don't answer her, my mouth full of cheeseburger. And as I eat, I think about it and decide that she's right, but I don't know who I want to be or what I want to do. After they finish their meals, I pay and am outside of the door when I hear someone call to me.

"Yo, wait! Wait up!" I stay still as Pink Hair somehow rounds the narrow ramp to stand in front of me. "Name's Willie. I can see that you're a good Trainer. When Lu called me over to the bar, well, I couldn't help but feel like I should battle you. Just looking at you made me feel that way."

"You wanna battle me? And my name's Wes." I can't help but feel like this guy is weird, in the brain, not his hair or other features, just like an old geezer going senile.

"That's what I'm saying! So, you up to it?" I sigh on the inside, but I nod. "Great! Over there. That way, Lu won't bug me for the last time I battled someone near his train." This makes me look back at the windows, seeing the broken glass and one is completely boarded up. I only follow him to just outside the entrance to the area and he gets himself pumped up…by imitating a motorbike's sounds. "Man am I fired up for this battle! Let's get started!" with that, he sends out two Zigzagoons.

"You two are up." My Eeveelutions take their places in front of me as I mentally face-palm at Willie's choice of Pokémon. "Confusion on the left Zigzagoon, Espeon. And Bite the right one, Umbreon!"

"Dodge it Ziggy!" but Umbreon has already damaged Ziggy. But as for the other one…"Zager! Return!" he calls back the fainted Pokémon and orders Ziggy to Tackle Espeon. She doesn't take much damage, and I order her to use Return on Ziggy. And with that, the battle ends. "Tch, I still need seasoning for this fight." He gives me 500 Poké dollars and tells me I should head west to Phenac City to really test my skills.