Author's Note: I have removed all review responses from the previous chapters because I found out from Wiki (I'm sure you all know what it is) that doesn't allow review responses in subsequent chapters. So now, I just want to say a big thank-you to all reviewers! Domo arigatou gozaimasu!

Disclaimer: Read previous chapters for disclaimer. You know what I own and what I don't own anyway.

Note: Stan is in his Purifier image in all Present chapters unless I indicate otherwise.

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Chapter 10 – The Shadow Pokémon Arc Begins (Present)

Present…

It had been days – no, weeks – since the incident with Stan presumably returning to life due to the tears his Pokémon had shed for him. Stan was as hyper as ever and couldn't wait till he was allowed to travel around Orre with his Pokémon. However, that wouldn't happen for quite some time, because Stan still had one more obstacle to over come, and that obstacle is…

"But Mom-!"

"No 'buts', Stan, and you are not allowed to go out there in that vast cruel world until you can prove to me that you are ready to take up this challenge. And that's final."

"Mom, you aren't being fair! How come Dad got to go when he was my age?"

"…"

"… Mom?"

"Sigh… I'll tell you another time." Siberia walked away slowly, her face showing a depressed expression. Stan looked away guiltily, realizing that he had saddened his mother once more. He, of all people/hamsters, should be fully aware that he should never talk about his father when Siberia was concerned. Otherwise, Siberia would be reminded of what she had done to Tora and would feel depressed for a long time. Stan sighed and walked in the opposite direction.

As Stan took a walk in the park nearby, he took a few glances at his surroundings. It was full of flowering trees and Bug type Pokémon were all around, including the Heracross and the Butterfree. The Butterfree were busily sucking tree sap with the Heracross and the Beautifly were trying to sneak some nectar and pollen from the Grass type Pokémon. Stan noticed his Bulba escaping from a Heracross that was trying to take Bulba's plant sap from his bulb. (Bulba is a male Bulbasaur.) Stan smiled widely, forgetting all of his troubles.

Stan continued watching all of the wonderful and amazing things happening around him. There were Butterfree, Beautifly, Heracross, Caterpie, Beedrill, Oddish, Gloom, Chikorita, Duxtox, Shroomish, Breloom and so much more kinds of Grass, Poison and Bug type Pokémon if Stan never counted Breloom as a Grass-cum-Fighting type. There was already so much to see in the Pokémon HQ Lab's park, let alone all of the exciting sights Stan could see yet missed out there in the vast world of Orre. One who lived somewhere else in Orre will never be able to understand Stan's feelings.

Stan walked away from the park and back into the Pokémon HQ Lab. The professors and researchers greeted him and Stan greeted back. He made his way to his room and locked the door before plopping down on his bed, his paws behind his head. Sighing heavily, Stan closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep in order to forget about his mother declining his request to travel. As Stan was a bout to drift off to dreamland, a voice over the PA system woke him up straight away.

"STANLEY TIGER! STANLEY TIGER! COULD YOU PLEASE COME OVER TO THE TRAINING SYSTEM ROOM NOW? I REPEAT, STANLEY TIGER, PLEASE COME OVER TO THE TRAINING SYSTEM ROOM NOW! THANK YOU!"

"Arrrggghhh!!!" Stan groaned as he got up from his bed. "I swear I'm going to destroy that evil PA system one day!"

The Training System room…

The automatic door opened and Stan entered the room. There was a professor handling the controls at one corner of the room. The professor was sitting on his chair and pushing some buttons and pulling levers here and there. Stan greeted the professor who greeted back and Stan walked towards Professor Krane who was standing next to Siberia.

"You rang, Professor?" Stan asked coolly. "Coz you know, I just swore that I would destroy that PA system one day." Both Professor Krane and Siberia sweat dropped anime style.

"Stan, mind your manners!" Siberia reprimanded. Stan just shrugged his shoulders just as coolly.

"Yes, I, uh… 'rang', as you youngsters put it. You see, here in the Training System room, we have a Battle Sim system made especially for Trainers like you to experience real-life battles with Battle Sims and more. I know that Siberia was a little… harsh on you about going to Orre, so I hope that you would enjoy this Battle Sim system," Krane explained. Stan seemed a little interested.

"How does it work?"

"You just step into this simulator, motion to Ribasu over there. The one handling the controls is Ribasu… And then, Ribasu will start the simulator and the system and you would be all set to go!"

"Sounds cool!"

"Why don't you give it a try, Stan? After all, if all your simulated Pokémon battles turn out well, I'm sure your mother would reconsider your request to travel."

That statement really motivated Stan.

After many, many, many simulated battles…

All occupants, except for Stan, in the Training System room were staring hard at Stan. Their jaws dropped to the floor and their eyes opened wide with amazement. Stan had cleared all 100 simulated battles of the Battle Sim system – and yet, Stan wasn't even breaking a sweat! Stan went out of the simulator, completely oblivious to all the stares he got till he looked at Siberia.

"Stop staring." And Stan gave everyone a death glare.

"Koei…" everyone muttered under their breath. Stan heard it but didn't seem to care. He went out of the room after realizing that it was time for his Pokémon's lunch and decided to go back to his room to get their lunch ready before they go mad. Siberia rushed over to Ribasu as soon as Stan was gone from sight and completely earshot away.

"Ribasu, what is Stan's record?"

"Uh… According to my calculations… Young Master Stan broke his own father's record by an hour!"

"That would make it 100 battles within a timing of…!"

"1 hour, 20 minutes and 52 seconds." Krane walked to Siberia's side and put an assuring paw on her shoulder.

"I think you should have faith in him now."

The next day…

Stan was trying hard to break his own record in the Training System room. Of course, he didn't attempt all 100 battles. Stan kept on using the same simulated battle over and over and would constantly ask for his record after the battle. So far, his record for that certain battle, presumably the toughest one, is a perfect 20-second record.

"Oh yes, Young Master Stan, this is the most wonderful piece of work I have ever seen! I'm sure your father is proud of you, no matter where he is right now," Ribasu commented.

"Oh. Yeah. My dad…" Stan mumbled sadly as he got out of the simulator and towards the door.

"Oh, wait, Young Master Stan! I'm-!" Stan ignored Ribasu and walked away. "-sorry…" But Stan was already gone by then.

Stan ran towards Krane's room, seeming ready to talk to Krane about his trip outside of Orre. Stan was surprised to see his mother there as well.

"Ah, Stan! I assume that you have finished your training? Ha ha, I heard Ribasu singing high praises about your marked improvement and now I am certain that I will not be able to win if I were to fare against you," Krane praised.

"Oh, I wish everyone won't shower them with praises all the time. My son and daughter will be spoiled rotten!" Siberia stated.

"Ha ha, don't worry about that, Siberia. Sandy and her friends will arrive here very soon."

If you are wondering what Krane was babbling about, well, Siberia had called up Sandy to come over to Orre to stay till Stan was ready to go home. Of course, the Ham-Hams were utterly surprised to hear about a place called Orre. Maxwell had a hard time trying to explain to them what Orre is, even though he had no idea that Orre was a place in the Pokémon world. Siberia attempted to reveal to everyone Stan's work and true identity but Stan advised her against it because he didn't want his friends to find out the truth about him just yet.

"I suppose they should've been here by now… Unless, of course, they've met with a mishap…" Siberia said with some worry in her voice. She then turned to face Stan and requested, "Stan, sweetie, it might be a nuisance to you if I ask you but could you go and check up on them after Professor Krane is done talking to you? Please, at least do it for your sister."

"Sigh… I won't like it, but fine." Stan then turned to Krane. "So, Prof, what'd you ask me here for?"

"Well, you see, Stan… I have to ask you to do me a favour… Actually, it won't be just me. It would be for everyone in the world, even your father. As you know, Shadow Pokémon have reappeared once more in Orre and without your father and his Snag Machine, I doubt this problem can be solved…"

"… Yeah…?"

"So, your mother and I have decided that since you are the best Trainer here, you should continue your father's job."

"Nani? Watashi? Take up Otou-san's job?"

"Hai, Stan-kun," Siberia replied in Japanese.

"Demo… What do I do? Purify them and Snag them?"

"Of course. The only problem is… can you do it without a Snag Machine?" Krane asked.

"Well… I'm not that sure yet…"

"I see. I'll be going downstairs now. I'll see if the Snag Machine I've been working on is ready yet. Come and see me later."

"Hai…"

A few moments later…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" an earsplitting, high-pitched scream pierced the air around the Pokémon HQ Lab. Stan, being a Purifier with an acute sense of hearing, practically went deaf for a while. He rushed downstairs with his mother and noticed the receptionist panting heavily.

"Kuri! Daijoubu?" Siberia asked the receptionist, Kuri, concernedly.

"H-h-h-hai… Demo, the Professor is being taken away by some strange-looking guys! Stan-kun, you have to go help him!" Kuri shouted.

"All right, I'll do it!" Stan rushed outside immediately.

"Be careful, Stan!" Siberia shouted to him.

Outside…

A Trainer and a few Professors were knocked out cold when Stan got outside. They were lying unconscious on the ground and their Pokémon seemed to have been taken away. Stan turned his head and saw a bunch of weird-looking guys in white suits and coloured patches. One of them was holding onto Professor Krane.

"Will you let go of me! What do you think you're doing?!" Krane demanded. One of the suspicious guys went up to him.

"Fufufu… We're taking you to your new lab, Professor."

"What… My new lab?"

"If you could just keep quiet and come with us, I'm sure everything will turn out just fine and according to plan."

"You people… What are you?"

Stan tried to sneak up and grab the Professor from behind the one holding onto the Professor but because his footsteps gave out sound (duh), the one who was talking to Krane noticed him and turned around to face Stan.

"Eh? Who are you, kid? This isn't playtime! Get lost!"

Battle Mode

"After you lose, you better not cry, kid!" – Naps

"Me? Cry because of losing to you?! Not in a million years!" – Stan

Spy Naps would like to battle!

Naps sent out Eevee!

Stan sent out Bulba!

"Hold on a sec. I'm picking up something!" – Stan

Stan stared hard straight at the Eevee and his forehead glowed before a pair of baby blue shades appeared magically, covering Stan's eyes. Stan blinked and once he reopens his eyes, they flashed white dangerously before turning back to normal. However, Stan's eye colours were inverted as a result. Through Stan's eyes, everything surrounding him is dark and only the Eevee can be seen, but it was emitting a shadowy aura.

"Oh! A Shadow Pokémon!" – Stan

"Stan, I'm surprised that you can spot Shadow Pokémon already! OK, try Snagging it now. Hurry! Before it launches an attack!" – Krane

Eevee's Moveset Lv. 10 (Girl)

Shadow Blitz

Shadow Wave

Bulba's Moveset Lv. 12 (Boy)

Tackle

Cut

Vine Whip

Solarbeam

"You want me to Snag it without weakening it?" – Stan

"Oh, fine. Do it the 'easy' way then!" – Krane

"Bulba, use your Tackle!" – Stan

Bulba charged at the Eevee and used Tackle, which caused the Eevee to fall backwards. Before Naps could call her to use an attack, Stan summoned up a PokéBall to appear telekinetically. Stan outstretched his left paw and his palm's PokéBall birthmark shone a bright shade of bluish white. A PokéBall, now a Snag Ball, was all charged and ready. Stan turned around, clutched onto the Snag Ball tightly, and as he spun around Stan released the Snag Ball at the Eevee. The Ball captured the Eevee and it shook once… twice… thrice…

Stop.

"That's one Shadow Pokémon with me now!" – Stan

Stan defeated Spy Naps!

"My Eevee! Was it… Was that… a Snag without the Snag Machine?!" – Naps

Stan got $170 for winning!

Battle Mode off

"Sheesh, kid! What's up with that birthmark of yours!" Naps demanded.

"Wait, Naps! Could it be…? A you-know-what?!" one of Naps's teammates wondered.

"Hey, that's right! That would mean trouble! Come on, let's go and report it to headquarters!" Naps and the others ran off towards their vehicle and placed Professor Krane in the boot. They locked the boot and got into the van which transformed into flying mode and took off. Stan followed them and called up Pidge.

"Come on, Pidge! We have to save the Professor!" Stan said as he got onto Pidge.

"Leave that to me, Stan!" Pidge spread out her wings and took off in the direction the van was flying at. Naps noticed that Stan and Pidge were following them.

"Yo, that Young Purifier is following us! And you know what the boss wants us to do to Purifiers, don't you…?" Naps asked sinisterly. Everyone smiled evilly at each other. "All right! Fire at will!" The van then transformed into a cross between a mission aeroplane and a war tank as soon as Naps said that. Some missiles could be seen emerging slowly from the top and they fired towards Stan.

"Pidge, avoid those missiles!" Pidge obeyed and tried her best to avoid the missiles. Then Naps ordered up the largest missile they had in store for Stan and it was fired at Stan. "Pidge, be careful!" As soon as Pidge dodged it, the missile beeped and turned around and fired itself back at Stan.

"Stan, it has a homing signal! What do we do?!" Pidge asked worriedly.

"Keep on avoiding it! I need some time to turn back to normal!"

"Huh? Why on Earth would you need to do that for?"

"Don't you see that the missile is fired only at us? Those guys must be a part of Cipher and if I'm correct, they have made missiles only for Purifiers since they want to get rid of all Purifiers! If I turn back to normal, then maybe the missile might lose contact and deprogramme itself!"

"Great idea, Stan, even though I have no idea what you're talking about…" Stan held onto Pidge's feathers tightly and closed his eyes, waiting for his body to turn back to normal. As soon as it did, the missile, as expected, stopped moving. After a moment, it beeped and seemed to have recharged itself as it was flying straight at Stan with a burst of new and faster speed. Stan, noticing the danger he was in, turned back to his Purifier image and braced himself.

In no less than 10 seconds, a fiery explosion occurred and darkness soon consumed Stan.

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A/N: OK, if I have spelt any Japanese words wrongly, do let me know. It's just like with my posted Gakuen Alice fic but if any of you who haven't read it yet and don't understand some Japanese words here that aren't translated in the previous chapter, the translations are down there below. I apologise for too much dialogue but it was necessary.

Next chapter: Siberia reveals the great secret of the Purifiers to Tora and also tells him that he is a Purifier but he won't believe her. What will Siberia do to make Tora believe her? Hint no. 3 is in the next chapter!

Nani?: What?

Watashi: Me/I

Otou-san: father

Demo: But

(just in case) Hai: Yes

(just in case) Daijoubu?: Are you OK?