Grey runs through the streets of Veilstone City. As he approaches the stairs to the Department Store he is greeted by waves of people leaving. It seems as the entire place was cleared out. As he runs to the entrance he spots Platina and Maylene standing out in front. Maylene has a small shopping bag with her while Platina has eight larger bags.

"Platina, Maylene what's going on?" asks Grey. "Where are all those people going?"

"We don't know." replies Platina. "Someone made an announcement that everybody had to leave. Then security came and cleared everyone out." She examines Grey. "Grey what is that connected to your Trainer Glove?"

Grey holds up his left arm. "It's the Snag Machine part we have been waiting for." "Cipher has been hiding it in that storage unit." He points to the Department Store. "Cipher is posing as workers of the store. They are behind whatever is going on in there!"

"Wait wait wait." say Maylene. "What's going on? Cipher? Snag Machine? Platina what is he talking about?"

"It's kind of hard to explain right now." says Platina. "I can fill you in later." She looks up at the building. "Grey are you sure it's Cipher?"

Grey holds up two pokeballs with Shadow Skuntank and Shadow Purguly. "Yeah I'm sure."

He goes to the doors and tries to open them. "Locked." he grunts. Grey starts to ram into the doors, but they will not budget.

Maylene walks up to Grey. "Let me handle this." She takes two steps back and jump kicks the door. They fly open and she walks inside. "After you."

Grey and Platina walk inside. The once lively main floor of the Department store is now a ghost town. The stores all closed and locked down. The power is off and all that is on the ground is items some customers dropped when being herded out of the store.

"Where do we go now?" asks Maylene.

"The top floor." replies Platina. She turns to Grey. "The managers office is up there. Hopefully they haven't hurt Miss Davidson."

Grey nods his head. "Right lets go."

The three trainers make their way through the main floor. They walk up to the elevator and click the up button, but nothing happens. "Why would they cut the power for the entire building?" asks Grey.

"Because they know we're here." responds Platina. She turns around. "The escalator is over there. We can use it as a staircase to the top floor."

As they walk up the escalator Maylene asks "But when we get to the last floor how do we get to the main office?"

"What do you mean?" asks Grey.

"Well the escalator only goes to the eighth floor. The main office is on the 9th." replies Maylene. "We need an elevator."

"We will figure it out when we get there." says Platina.

As the three reach the third floor Maylene freezes. "Stop."

Grey turns around. "Why? What's wrong?"

Maylene says nothing. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Her eyes flash open and she jumps straight into the air.

"Oh my god." says Platina. "I can even see her."

"Yeah." says Grey.

Suddenly Maylene slams into the ground holding a Peon by the neck. "I sensed him hanging in the escalator waiting to surprise us.

"Really?" asks Grey. "How did you do that?"

Maylene smirks. "Years of training."

The Peon quickly grabs Maylene's arm and throw her on the ground while he gets up.

"Maylene!" shouts Platina as she runs over. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," grunts Maylene. "I just let my guard down."

Grey clicks on two pokeballs. "Alright lets go!"

"No!" says Maylene.

Grey turns around. "What?"

Maylene takes two pokeballs from her belt. "This is my fight!"

Grey shrugs. He deselects the two pokeballs. "Do you think she can do this?"

"Shes got this." replies Platina. "In the meantime you might want to charge a Snag Ball."

"That sounds like a good idea." says Grey. He takes a greatball from his pouch. He turns his arm over and inserts the ball in the gauntlet. Once inserted Grey clicks on the button on the side of the gauntlet. The Snag Machine starts to glow purple as the ball charges.

While Grey charges the Snag Ball Maylene releases her Pokémon. "Medicham! Lucario! I need you!"

Both fighting Pokémon emerge from their pokeballs ready to fight. The Peon smirks. "Alright kid let's do this." He grabs two pokeballs from his belt. "Hippopotas! Sneasel! Battle time!"

As the small hippo pokemon Hippopotas emerges from its pokeball Grey's eyes begin glow. "Maylene look out that Hippopotas is a Shadow Pokémon!"

"A Shadow Pokémonn?"asks Maylene. "What the hell is that?"

"It's stronger than normal Pokémon!" yells Platina. "Just knock it around a bit so Grey and snag it!"

"Not if I beat the crap out of you first!" shouts the Peon. "Hippopotas use Shadow Blitz! Sneasel use Screech!"

Sneasel screeches as loud as it can. Lucario and Medicham cover their ears in pain. The Shadow Hippopotas lunges at Lucario with shadow aura flaring.

"Lucario dodge then strike with Force Palm to the back of the head!" orders Maylene. "Medicham use Hi Jump Kick on Sneasel!"

As Hippopotas approaches Lucario, Lucario jumps. Once Hippopotas is under Lucario, Lucario strikes Hippopotas' neck. Hippopotas collapses out cold.

"Grey now!" shouts Maylene.

Grey clicks the button again and the greatball disappears. Grey opens his hand and then Snag Ball appears. "Snag Ball go!" shouts Grey as he throws the Snag Ball. It hits the Shadow Hippopotas in the snout and sucks it inside. It shakes a couple of times before stopping.

"We got it!" yells Grey. "Now all you have to do it finish off the Sneasel." Grey looks over and sees Medicham standing on top of the knocked out Sneasel. "Or you could have already done that and won."

Maylene smugly wipes her lip with her knuckle. "And that's why you don't mess with the Veilstone City GYM Leader."

"Damnit!" yells the Peon.

Maylene grabs the Peons arm. "Now you're going to answer a few questions!"

The Peon breaks away from Maylene's grip. "Not if I get away first!" He runs over to the balcony and jumps over.

"Oh my god!" gasps Platina.

"Don't worry." say Maylene. She walks over to the balcony and points to a water poll. "Look he jumped on the pole and slid down."

"So thats how they do it." say Grey.

"Yep." agrees Maylene. She turns to Grey and Platina. "I don't know what exactly what going on here, but I know that these people need to be stopped. I'm going to go get the police. You two need to finish off these guys."

Platina and Grey nod their heads. "Alright then I'm off." says Mayene. She stands up on the balcony, does a backflip onto the water pipe and slides down.

"She didn't have to do the backflip." states Grey.

"Yeah, but that's Maylene for you." replies Platina. She turns to Grey. "Now come on lets keep moving."

Platina and Grey continue to make their way up the escalator. "So do you think we can just charge the elevator? asks Grey.

"I don't know Grey." replies Platina. "It could work, or electrocute us."

"Oh right." says Grey. "Forgot about that."

Grey and Platina make their way up the building. They don't run into any Peons all the to the eighth floor.

The eighth floor looks the same as the others. The lights are out, garbage is on the ground and all the stores are locked up. Grey walks over to the elevator. He taps on a pokeball. "Sparks try to give the elevator some power."

Sparks is released from his pokeball. Grey picks Sparks up and places Sparks' tail on the elevators' call button.

"Grey are you sure about this?" asks Platina.

"What else can we do?" asks Grey.

Platina says nothing. Grey nods his head. "Alright Sparks give it a little juice." Sparks zaps the control button panel. The buttons start to flash red and green. "Easy there Sparks." Sparks removes his tail and the buttons are now glowing green. "Ha I knew it would work!" Grey returns Sparks and calls the elevator. "Now it's going to be an easy ride to the top."

The elevator rings and the doors open. Two Peons jump out as soon as the doors open. "Holy crap I thought we were going to be stuck in there forever!" yells Peon.

"We are finally free!" shouts the other Peon. He looks up "God dammit it's the kid with the Snag Machine and his secretary."

Platina walks up to the Peon and slaps him. "I am no one's secretary!" She takes out a pokeball. "Grey let's take out these two!"

Grey taps on a pokeball. "I'm game!" The pokeball appears in Greys' hand. "Star let's go!" Grey's Staravia is released from her pokeball and swoops onto the field.

"Lopunny battle time!" shouts Platina. The rabbit Pokémon Lopunny emerges from her pokeball and lines up next to Star.

The first Peon disattached one of his pokeballs. "Alright lets do this! Bronzor front and center!"

The dark teal circular plate Pokémon is released from its pokeball. It says nothing as it floats in place.

The second Peon still rubbing his face from Platina's slap grabs his pokeball too. "Sudowoodo come on out!"

"Anything Grey?" asks Platina.

"No." responds Grey. He takes a pokeball and plugs it into the Snag Machine. "But I'm not going to take any chances."

"Well you're not going to get the chance!" shouts one of the Peons. "Bronzor use Future Sight!" Bronzor flashes a dim light, but nothing happens.

The other Peon now with a hand mark on his face orders his Sudowoodo. "Sudowoodo use Rock Tomb!" Sudowoodo slams it's hands into the ground and pulls out a chunk of concrete. It then chucks it at Lopunny.

"Lopunny blast it with Focus Blast!" orders Platina.

"Star use Double Team!" yells Grey.

Lopunny jumps into the air. She is right in front of the concrete chunk. Lopunny opens her mouth and a ball of energy forms. The ball soon grows to double Lopunny's size. Once large enough she fires it. The attack obliterates the concrete chunk and hurts Sudowoodo.

Star starts to move around the field and stunning speeds. Grey knows Star is at a disadvantage with type, so he is going defensive.

The Sudowoodo takes a few steps back. "You piece of crap attack it! Use Sucker Punch!" yells the Peon.

Sudowoodo runs at Lopunny, then disappears. Lopunny starts to frantically look around for Sudowoodo. Suddenly Lopunny gets punched left, right then uppercutted. She falls to her knees and Sudowoodo reappears in front of her.

Before Sudowoodo can finish off Lopunny, Star flies over and bashes into Sudowoodo. It doesn't do much damage, but it allows Lopunny to get back on her feet.

"Good job Star!" yells Grey.

Star chirps happily, then falls to the ground. "What the?!" gasps Grey.

"Ha Future Sight!" laughs the Peon. "Always gets them! Now finish it off with Faint Attack!"

Bronzor rushes over ready strikes Star, when Lopunny kicks Bronzor from high up. "Yes critical hit with Jump Kick!" yells Platina.

Bronzor is now spinning around defenseless. Star gets up and flies away. "Now Star use Take Down!" orders Grey.

Star swoops around and crashes into Bronzor. Bronzor is crushed through a gate locking up a store. Star is pushed back. She shakes her head taking some damage from the attack.

On the other side Sudowoodo and Lopunny are having a stare down. "Alright Lopunny lets finish this!" shouts Platina. "Use Jump Kick!"

"Sudowoodo use Brick Break!" yells the Peon.

Both Pokémon sprint at each other. Lopunny leaps into the air ready to strike. Sudowoodo cocks its right arm back building up energy. Lopunny strikes at Sudowoodo with her left leg and Sudowoodo swings its right arm with all its might. The two Pokémon collide and a small explosion is set off. The light from the explosion blinds everyone for a second. The light dims, Lopunny and Sudowoodo are on opposite sides of the field. Both panting from exhaustion waiting for the other to collapse. Finally Sudowoodo falls.

"Yes!" shouts Platina. "You did it."

Lopunny slowly gets up and nods her head.

"Crap!" yells the Peon as he returns Sudowoodo. "I lost to a rabbit!" He turns to the other Peon. "What about your Pokémon?"

The other Peon just returned his Bronzor. "I got nothing."

The Peon yells at the top of his lungs. "I will not be stuck in an elevator for almost two hours just to get my ass kicked by two kids!"

Grey returns Star while the Peons complain.

"Why are you returning Star?" asks Platina.

"Because if they have anymore Rock Pokémon Star is finished." replies Grey. "Star couldn't make it through another battle anyway."

Grey clicks on another pokeball. "Floater it's your turn!" Grey's Floatzel emerges from his pokeball, and roars. "I see someone is ready to fight."

The Peons grab their pokeballs. "We aren't done yet!" they yell simultaneously.

The first Peon releases a Monferno. The second Peon with the hand mark releases a Carnivine.

Grey inspects both pokemon and his eyes start to glow. "Platina the Carnivine is a Shadow Pokémon!"

"Alright Grey!" yells Platina. "Let's take it down!"

"Bring it!" shouts the second Peon. "Carnivine use Shadow Panic!"

Carnivine's eyes start to glow dark purple. As it stares at Floater and Lopunny their eyes start to glow dark purple too. Soon Floater and Lopunny are wobbling around confused. They can't stand up straight and are spinning around.

"They are confused!" exclaims Grey.

"Yeah I know!" responds Platina. "Thanks for the update!" She takes out a pokeball. "Lopunny return!"

"Not so fast!" exclaims the other Peon. "Monferno use Match Punch!" In a quick blur Monferno is able to strike Lopunny. With a powerful strike to the jaw Monderno knocks out Lopunny.

"No Lopunny!" exclaims Platina. She recalls Lopunny again. "You're going to pay for that!" She takes out another pokeball. "Go Rapidash!" The horse like Pokémon emerges from its pokeball with fire flaring from its body.

"Alright Floater use Water Pulse on Monferno!" orders Grey. Floater still confused tries to pull itself together. Floater takes a deep breath and fires the Water Pulse attack. Monferno tries to avoid the attack, but struck by the attack. It is thrown into a garbage can and soaked.

"Yes!" yells Grey. "Great job Floater!" Floater jumps up and down clapping his hands, then slips and falls on his face. "Still confused" sighs Grey.

Monferno slowly gets up. "Not so fast!" yells Grey. "Floater use Water Pulse again!"

Floater cocks his head back and fires another Water Pulse attack, but this time it hits Rapidash. "No Floater!" yells Grey.

"Grey control your pokemon!" yells Platina.

"I'm trying!" exclaims Grey. "Come on Floater snap out of it!"

Floater turns to Grey, then spins around and falls to the floor. Grey sighs.

"Let's finish that ridiculous Pokémon!" shouts one of the Peons. "Carnivine use Shadow Storm!"

The Shadow Carnivine flaps its leafs and forms a dark aura twister. The twister attacks Floater swiping it into the air. Floater is thrown around in the air and thrown onto the ground.

Grey runs over to aid his Pokémon. "Floater are you alright!" He picks up Floater and places him upright. Floater violently shakes his head then grins at Grey. Grey grins back.

"Monferno finish them off with Flame Wheel!" orders the Peon. Monferno charges at Floater and Grey. Fire starts to build up into it is consumed with it. Then it grabs its ankles and rolls furiously at the two.

"Quick Floater do something!" yells Grey in a panic. Floater jumps up and blasts Monferno with water. It looks like a Water Pulse, but it's too strong. Monferno's attack is extinguished and is knocked out.

"Floater did you use Hydro Pump?" asks Grey. Floater turns to Grey shrugging his shoulders not knowing what attack he just used.

Grey gets up and turns to Platina. She had ordered Rapidash to use Flare Blitz while running around the shadow twister. Rapidash sprinting around the twister at top speeds redirected the twister.

"Now strike Rapidash!" yells Platina. Rapidash releases the twister at the Shadow Carnivine. The twister throws the Shadow Carnivine into a wall, then Rapidash strikes with Flare Blitz. "Grey now!"

Grey beams a Snag Ball at the Shadow Carnivine and hits it between the eyes. It is sucked and quickly catches it. "Yes!"

"That little shit!" yells a Peon. He turns to the other Peon. "You have another Pokémon?"

The other Peon grabs for a pokeball on his belt, but finds nothing. "No! That Shadow Carnivine was my last Pokémon!"

"So take the elevator up and warn the boss!" orders the Peon.

"There is no way in hell I am going back in that elevator!" yells the other Peon. He runs past Grey and Platina to the escalator. "Good luck I'm getting the fuck out of here!"

"You coward!" yells the Peon, but it's too late. The other Peon is already halfway down to the main level. He turns to Grey and Platina. "That useless piece of shit might be done, but I still have one more Pokémon!" He grabs his final pokeball. "Gastrodon let's go!" A blue/green sea slug pokemon is released.

"Grey?" asks Platina.

"Yep, it's a Shadow Pokémon." replies Grey.

"Yes!" exclaims the Peon. "Now face the wrath of my Shadow Pokémon! Now use Shadow Hold!

Shadow aura forms around Floater and Rapidash. It wraps around and binds the two Pokémon. "Ha now you can't escape!" laughs the Peon.

Grey and Platina look at each other. "Floater! Rapidash! Take down that Shadow Pokemon!" the two say together.

Floater and Rapidash run and the Shadow Gastrodon. The punch and kick it until it is knocked out. Grey charge a Snag Ball. "Alright Snag Ball go!"

Grey lobs the ball at the Shadow Pokemon. It hits the Shadow Gastrodon on its forehead and sucks in inside. The ball shakes for a few seconds then stops. "And thats it!' yells Grey.

"No!' yells the Peon. "How did I lose?!"

"Stop complaining and run away already!" yells Platina. "We have things to do!"

The Peon takes no time running down the escalator just like the Peon before him.

Platina returns Rapidash and fixes her sling.

Grey recalls Floater and turns to Platina. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." groans Platina. "Pushed myself a little too much. I don't think I can help you on this last battle."

Grey nod his head and the two walk over to the elevator. Grey pushes the call button and the doors open. "You sure you want to come up?"

"I can't battle, but I'm still going to support you." say Platina.

Grey says nothing. He presses the ninth button and the doors close. The elevator starts to move. Grey and Platina say nothing. The only noise is the elevator music. You can cut the tension with the knife. When the doors open Grey and Platina walk out. "Miss Davidson are you okay!?" shouts Platina.

The room is practically empty. No Peons are in the room. No lights are on, the only light is coming from the large window. The only things in the room is a large desk and a large chair facing the window.

"So I see you battled your way up to the 9th floor, but this is the end." says a woman.

"Who are you?" asks Grey. "What do you want with the Department Store?"

She laughs a little. "That my friend," She turns around. She has long red hair and is wearing a black pantsuit.

"It's Miss Davidson!" gasps Platina.

Miss Davidson smirks. "That is Cipher business."