Draco: ...Come to think of it, I don't think they had a #ConsoleCameo in Colosseum or XD. I mean, Wes didn't exactly start at a home for players to check it out at, but Michael's home is a place you have to keep going back to. Or did they just get torn on whether to include a GameCube or a GameBoy Advance? I mean, all the player characters of handheld games have home consoles, but you couldn't exactly put a handheld console somewhere it would be easy to see with GameCube graphics.
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Chapter 12: Administrator of Distribution
Deciding to check out the Colosseum first proved fruitless; besides the fact that "Shadow Pokémon" was a well-known and openly-used term, there was nothing about it that was too different from how Pyrite Colosseum had been. An elevator nearby was described as a fast-track to the northwestern corner of Pyrite Town, but that wouldn't be useful when Wes' bike was still sitting on the southeast edge; there was a shop for herbal medicine on that side of the gorge, but Wes knew how unpleasant such medicines were for Pokémon and wasn't about to subject his Pokémon to such a thing.
The UFO platform automatically returned when they approached the gorge, and delivered them back to the town side; once there, Wes drew out his control device and directed the platform rightward.
The goon in the fancy longcoat was waiting just inside the structure when they opened the door; what Wes had assumed to be a head of blue hair was in fact a strange blue cap of some sort, flopping back from his head and obscuring his hair entirely (Wes would bet a hundred pd that he was bald underneath). On their attempted entry, he abruptly made to usher them back out. "No, no, no," he insisted, "I'm afraid I can't let you in here. Lady Venus is busy preparing for her next broadcast."
"Let me guess," Wes snarked, "you're her 'Advisor'?"
The man started. "You know that?" he demanded. "You must be that Snagger!"
"What?" Wes exclaimed. "I was joking! Being a Cipher Admin's errand boy is an actual thing?"
"I'm not her errand boy!" the man retorted. "Being an Advisor means that the Administrator has a second-in-command who can be trusted to accept essential duties! In the case of Lady Venus, that means ensuring the Shadow Pokémon are distributed fairly, the members of Cipher are not obstructed in their business, and the people of the Under accept Lady Venus as their rising star!"
Rui set her hands on her hips. "So you're her PR guy, then?"
The man grumbled. "My role may well be described as such," he conceded. "But serving faithfully as an Advisor puts me in a position of authority here in the Under, and may well lead to my being made Administrator in my own right, should Cipher have need of it!"
He seized a Poké Ball from his belt and brandished it over his head.
"I am Snattle," he proclaimed. "Distribution Advisor, and second to Lady Venus! And I will not have some rogue Snagger and his Shadow-sensitive escort insulting me!"
You are challenged by Cipher Promote Snattle!
Wes reached for his own belt as Snattle flung a pair of Poké Balls forward; a Starmie and Castform appeared before him, and Wes promptly sent out Espeon and Umbreon. After a glance at Rui confirmed there were no Shadow Pokémon on the field, he promptly instructed, "No holding back, you two!"
With a nod, Umbreon charged at Starmie for a Feint Attack, and Espeon unleashed a Psybeam in Castform's direction. Starmie's jewel gleamed as it began to spin; no sooner at the attacks connected than dark clouds began to manifest above them, and rain began to pour down on the north side of the gorge. Castform's body glowed in response to the storm; when the light faded, the Weather Pokémon was bathed in a raindrop, and she promptly launched a watery Weather Ball in a skyward arc that came down hard on Espeon.
The Sun Pokémon shook her head, her jewel gleaming in retaliation as Starmie unleashed a rain-empowered Water Pulse that slammed into Umbreon as he tried to retreat. Castform hurled another Weather Ball as they went for another go; Espeon managed to tank this one as well, and she sent this Psybeam after Starmie to double-up as Umbreon connected with a hard Assurance.
The two-front blow was enough to knock out the Mysterious Pokémon; Snattle withdrew Starmie and sent out a Solrock to take its place. The Meteorite Pokémon promptly twisted into a whirling spin, and the storm clouds above them began to subside as a brilliant light began to fill the Under. Wes would wager that they had the attention of the city's entire population with this guy's light show; as Castform changed again in response to the weather, Espeon and Umbreon invoked an ephemeral sun and moon, the harsh sunlight intensifying the healing that their wounds received.
No sooner had Castform's light parted to reveal her wrapped in a sun of her own than Espeon's Future Sight connected; the Weather Pokémon barely managed to endure the hit, and retaliated by throwing a heated Weather Ball in Umbreon's direction. Umbreon charged at her in retaliation, striking with an Assurance as Espeon launched another Future Sight; as Castform was knocked out, Snattle withdrew her, sending out a Lunatone to take his place.
"...Right, then," Wes mused. "This seems like a good place." He withdrew Espeon, and Umbreon glanced back before turning his attention to the two Meteorite Pokémon floating there; Wes quickly threw out another Poké Ball, causing Lucario to appear upon the field. "Rui?"
Rui looked at him. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Wes confirmed. "No better time to find out."
"...Right." Rui drew out her pocket watch, opening it up; then, with a deep breath, she set her thumb against the Key Stone.
Wes had figured out a way for Lucario to carry the Mega Stone where it wouldn't keep his hands busy; now, a light began to shine from the Lucarionite, pinned to the fur that formed a ruff around the Aura Pokémon's neck, and a grin rose on Lucario's face. Rui smiled, pumping her pocket watch into the air; and the light intensified, surrounding Lucario in a prismatic sphere.
Then the sphere shattered.
Snattle yelped; his Solrock and Lunatone pulled away; and even Umbreon was surprised at the sight of the transformed Lucario who stood there. His torso fur had extended to become a dominating cape that draped his tail; his aura sensors had elongated, become more flexible, and the spikes on his arms had doubled, become more angular. The Mega Lucario gave a mighty howl - one that echoed all throughout the Under - and took a fighting stance.
"What is-!?"
"Hit it!" Wes commanded.
Lucario's arm spikes began to glow with a metallic light as he charged forward; Lunatone had no opportunity to try and defend itself before he lashed forward with a Metal Claw that carved across its stone body. Solrock made to strike, a Solar Beam gathering rapidly in the sun; no sooner had it launched than Umbreon was up at point-black range, connecting with a Feint Attack as the light struck Lucario - hurting him, but not by very much.
Trading glances, Lucario and Umbreon switched targets; the Aura Pokémon charged at Solrock, his Metal Claw hitting with enough force to finish the sun-ray rock off after Umbreon's blow. Lunatone unleashed a Psychic pulse while Lucario's back was turned, but the Mega-Evolved Pokémon managed to endure the blow as Umbreon knocked out the crescent rock with a hard-hitting Assurance.
Snattle withdrew both Meteorite Pokémon, glaring. "...That's cheating," he muttered. "But two can play at that game!"
He threw forward his last Poké Ball - and Rui gasped as a Cryogonal emerged. "Wes!"
"That's what I get for daring the universe," Wes muttered; he raised Lucario's Ball, withdrawing the Mega-Evolved Pokémon and sending Espeon back out to take his place. "Hold Back, you two!"
With a nod, the Eeveelutions made to charge at the Cryogonal - but the Crystallizing Pokémon spun in the air, and a darkness that even Wes could see extended heavenward. The harsh light that Solrock had invoked vanished, and a perverse darkness draped the northern edge of the gorge, diluting even the dim lights that were used to illuminate the Under.
Espeon connected first, and Umbreon immediately after, their withheld blows sending the Cryogonal turning backwards - and as they retreated, the darkness encroached upon them.
"No...!" Rui winced. "It's like... some kind of hail - for Shadow Pokémon!"
Snattle scoffed. "That's what you get, Snagger!" he reprimanded. "Interfere with Cipher's business, and you will be made to suffer as a consequence!"
Wes grit his teeth. "Come on, you two! We can do this!"
His Pokémon gave cries in the affirmative; this time Umbreon led the charge, Espeon right on his tail. Cryogonal spun again, and this time the darkness formed a pair of twisters that made to close in on the Eeveelutions - their blows had only just connected before the Shadow Pokémon's attack struck them, throwing them back and knocking them out.
"No...!" Rui gasped.
Wes withdrew them, slapping their Balls to his belt. "That's gonna have to do," he muttered, throwing one more forward. Lucario emerged, and Wes was pleasantly surprised to find his Mega Evolution had held true during his withdrawal; he regarded the Shadow Pokémon before him, and Wes knew that - like Rui - he could see it for what it was. "Lucario! I need you on the defensive!"
The Aura Pokémon nodded, ready to do what was necessary to let him Snag this Shadow Pokémon. Cryogonal glared at him, unleashing an Ice Beam, and Lucario braced his arms before him; as the attack washed over him, Wes brandished an Ultra Ball at his side, and his Snag Machine converted it. As soon as the stream of cold subsided, he hurled the Snag Ball forward; it twisted through the air, zeroing in on the Shadow Pokémon, and the light extended forward to envelop the Shadow Pokémon and take it inside.
The Ball fell to the ground, and Wes dreaded that this one wouldn't close.
Shake... Shake... Shake... Click!
"Oh, no," Wes murmured as the Ball bounced back towards him; he caught it in his left hand, and it vanished in response to his full party. Snattle gave a yelp of indignation as the dark aura began to disperse from around them; a light washed over Lucario, and his Mega Evolution began to recede as the flow of battle ebbed out.
"No...!" He glared at Wes. "You'll pay for that, Snagger!" he proclaimed. "Lady Venus will make you pay!"
"Get out of here, errand boy," Rui reprimanded. "Let her do the talking."
With a low growl, Snattle dashed past them; Wes gave him a wide berth, worried that he was gonna try and take something the old-fashioned way, only to find him dashing onto the UFO platform and retreating into town.
"What's with the 'oh no'?" Rui asked. "I thought you'd be glad that Snag worked after Espeon and Umbreon were down."
"They say that for every stroke of good luck, you've gotta suffer a stroke of bad luck in return," Wes admitted. "What do you reckon are the odds I Snag the Admin's Shadow Pokémon after a showing like that?"
+x+x+x+
They ended up stopping in at the Colosseum, to heal up Wes' Pokémon at the PC; then the two of them made their way into the recording studio. Cameras were set up all over the room, to catch her from multiple angles, although most of them were unmanned; the broadcaster was speaking with who Wes assumed to be a cameraman in a corner, and Venus seemed to be speaking on an earpiece of some description.
"What is it, Snattle?" she demanded. "I told you to make sure we're not interrupted until after-" She cut herself off as she turned around, finding Wes and Rui stepping in. "Wait, you're not Snattle!" And then; "Wait, I know those faces! You're the ones on the blacklist from Headquarters! How did you get in here?"
"Your Advisor couldn't keep us out," Wes retorted. "How much you wanna bet you'll be any better?"
Venus fumed. "Oh, you arrogant little Snagger!" she snapped. "Who do you think you're talking to?"
"A pompous idol wannabe in an impractical dress?" Rui proposed.
"Why you...!"
Her recording crew seemed to know what was coming, and promptly evacuated the studio. She reached back towards the moon-and-horns suspended behind her - and Wes was surprised when her left hand swept out holding a Poké Ball. Her right hand did the same, and she took a threatening stance with a Ball in either hand.
"I am Lady Venus, Cipher's Administrator of Distribution!"
"So we were right," Rui observed. "You're the one who sent the Shadow Pokémon to Pyrite, through Miror B. We stop you, we stop the chaos!"
"You think it'll be that easy?" the Admin retorted. "If Snattle couldn't take you out, I'll squash you myself, and earn a nice reward from General Nascour!"
You are challenged by Cipher Admin Venus!
Wes reached for his belt as Venus threw her Poké Balls forward; a Steelix and a Delcatty appeared there, and Wes promptly sent out Lucario and Sudowoodo in retaliation. Rui quickly drew out her Mega Locket, touching the Key Stone to set off Lucario's Mega Evolution as Sudowoodo slammed its branches down, bringing up spikes of Shadow Rave to strike both opponents.
"Keep 'em busy, darlings!" Venus yelled.
A rose-coloured light began to gather around Delcatty, and she took an alluring stance, her gaze fixed on Sudowoodo; Wes cursed under his breath as the Attraction took root, quietly surprised that it was even capable of affecting a Shadow Pokémon. Steelix glared at Lucario as the light of his Mega Evolution took off, and gave a cry with an underhanded edge that even Wes understood, provoking Lucario into bringing his hands back at his side.
Aura welled between his hands, and concern adorned the faces of both of Venus' Pokémon as they realized that they might have been better off trying to inflict those statuses the other way around. Lucario hurled the Aura Sphere at Steelix, who was sent reeling by the blow; one Fighting-type hit of that potency from a Mega-Evolved Pokémon was enough to knock out the Iron Snake Pokémon, and as Venus made to withdraw him, Lucario turned his attention on Delcatty.
A Vileplume was sent out in Steelix's place; Wes realized that the infatuated Sudowoodo would be worse than useless and withdrew him, sending out the Cryogonal that he had Snagged from Snattle to join Lucario on the field. Before Delcatty could try to infatuate him as well, Lucario lunged forward, his body vanishing as he rushed Delcatty with blows; Cryogonal promptly unleashed a Shadow Storm, the twisters knocking out Delcatty and hitting Vileplume quite hard as well.
The Flower Pokémon seemed to realize she was fighting a losing battle and went for long-term effectiveness; as Lucario leapt back from the withdrawn Delcatty, Vileplume unleashed a cloud of Stun Spore, the paralyzing powder washing over him and stiffening his movements. A Misdreavus emerged to take Delcatty's place, unleashing a powerful Psybeam in Cryogonal's direction; the damage was manageable, but the real problem was the instability that followed in the Crystallizing Pokémon's movements.
Wes cursed, withdrawing Cryogonal and Lucario to lessen their limitations; Espeon and Umbreon were sent out to take their place. "Finish 'em off!" he instructed, and the Eeveelutions acted quickly; Misdreavus seamed to be trying to charm Espeon before Umbreon's Faint Attack struck him full-on, and Vileplume didn't have the chance to try and inhibit Umbreon before Espeon connected with a Psybeam of her own.
Venus withdrew her Pokémon with a Ball in each hand - but this time, Wes understood to be concerned when he saw her confidence hadn't faltered any. "You're pretty good, darlings," she reprimanded, bringing the Poké Balls back behind her head; then her hands came back down, and only one was holding a Poké Ball. "But let's see if you can keep it up!"
Oh, no, Wes realized. Don't tell me-!
"Make 'em cry!"
She flung her last Poké Ball forward, causing Espeon and Umbreon to leap away before it landed - and a wind filled the studio before the light had even faded to reveal what it had brought. A quadrupedal beast of deep blue stood there, white diamonds scattered upon its fur; a crystalline shape extended up from its brow, an aurora seemed to exist upon its back like a cape, and two white ribbons extended as tails, waving in the breeze that ever blew at its back.
The Northwind Beast howled - and the gales intensified as the sound filled the air.
Wes stepped back. "Suicune...!"
Rui gasped, terror flooding her voice. "How could you...?"
"You didn't just corrupt one," Wes realized, "but turned your darkness on his fellows as well!?"
"He wouldn't call them results until they were repeatable," Venus reprimanded. "Suicune! Freeze them to their souls!"
The temperature in the studio seemed to drop as the Northwind Beast reared, darkness gathering around her; Wes, Rui, Espeon, and Umbreon all leapt aside as the Shadow Chill was unleashed, ice tearing through the air and slamming into the wall behind where Wes had been standing. Wes didn't need to command them this time; Espeon and Umbreon knew that, just as with Entei, they couldn't let Suicune remain in Cipher's hands, and so they dashed forward in the aftermath of the frost, holding back as they connected on each side and then leapt away again.
Suicune promptly rounded on Espeon; a sharper gale rushed forward from around the Northwind Beast, striking her and sending her tumbling. As she righted herself, an ephemeral sun appeared above her to ease her wounds as Umbreon charged forward again; Suicune hadn't the chance to try and follow up the attack before a withheld blow connected with her side, and she turned on Umbreon as a consequence, taking aim and unleashing a Shadow Chill to strike him. The ice connected just as Espeon's sun faded out, and she charged from the other side as a moon appeared over Umbreon.
Again did the blow connect before Suicune could follow up with her attack, earning her ire; another Gust chased after Espeon, but she managed to avoid this one as Umbreon was patched up. As they went for another two-front charge, Wes drew out an Ultra Ball, holding at his side for his Snag Machine to convert it; once their two-front attacks connected, he hurled the Snag Ball forward, and it neared just as his Eeveelutions made to withdraw, enveloping Suicune and then falling to the ground.
Shake...
With a threatening crack, the Ball split open, and Wes cursed as Suicune emerged again. "No!"
"Tell me you didn't think it would be that easy to take a legendary Pokémon, Snagger!" Venus reprimanded. "Freeze him, Suicune!"
The Northwind Beast took aim at Wes again, and he leapt aside before the Shadow Chill could connect; Umbreon and Espeon promptly rushed her from the sides as the last of it striking her and leaping aside again. Stupid of me, Wes realized. Stupid! I should have brought someone who could paralyze! Now I'm left rolling the dice and hoping one of these things closes!
"Wes!" Rui's call drew his attention; she was still holding her pocket watch. "Wrong Ball!"
"Wrong..." He turned his attention back to the fight. "Right!"
Suicune's Shadow Chill connected with Espeon, this time with a precision that almost knocked her out in one hit. The Sun Pokémon managed to stand her ground as Umbreon struck with one more withheld blow; as the ephemeral sun appeared above her, Wes drew out a Timer Ball, converted it, and hurled it forward. Again did the light envelop the Northwind Beast, and Wes grit his teeth, hoping it would be enough.
Shake... Shake... Shake...
"No!" Wes cursed as the Ball split open, Suicune emerging once again. The Shadow Pokémon seemed to take noteworthy offense to the Snag attempts, turning her her Shadow Chill on him again; as he leapt aside, Wes raised Espeon and Umbreon's Balls, withdrawing them both before sending out Lucario. The Mega-Evolved Aura Pokémon was still stiff with paralysis, but as he regarded the Northwind Beast, he glanced back at Wes and nodded, understanding his role.
A Gust rushed forward, and Lucario braced himself as the wind rushed him; Wes quickly repositioned himself, knowing that Lucario was in ill condition to try and clear the path for his Snag Balls. Another Timer Ball was drawn out, and lines traced it as he held it at his side; while the gales faded out, he hurled it forward, praying that this one was going to be enough.
Suicune saw the Ball coming, and looked like she was about to try and attack it before the Ball opened, enveloping her once more.
Shake...
Shake...
Shake...
...Click!
"Yes...!" Wes sighed, the Snag Ball bouncing back towards him; Lucario breathed a sigh of his own, his Mega Evolution fading out, and Venus gave a squeal of indignation as Suicune's Ball vanished.
"How dare you!?" she protested. "You awful little Snagger! How could I be bested by someone like you!?" As Wes and Rui made to step forward, she glared at them. "You... you'd better remember this! I'll get you back one day!"
She charged down a set of stairs at the back of the studio, and Wes turned to Rui. "You think-?"
"Yeah," Rui agreed. "She's likely going back to her superiors - we'd better go after her!"
+x+x+x+
Wes had the foresight to heal up his Pokémon as best he was able with his Potion stock as they made to pursue Venus - and he was glad that he did. The sharp corners of the studio basement meant they missed which of a pair of doors she had gone through; when they went through the door on their left, they found that the one on the right had led to an elevator that she was currently riding down - and the stairway was littered with Trainers. Each of those Trainers had a Shadow Pokémon, as well; Wes ended up Snagging a Golurk, Bouffalant, Beartic, and Scrafty - in a total of twelve Ultra Balls - on his way to the bottom floor and through an archway leading STATION.
When they went through that archway, they found a train waiting for them - a slick-looking, single-car unit - and Venus at the far end with a couple Peons, making to climb in. As they caught sight of her, she seemed to catch sight of them, making a sound both indignant and worried as she dashed inside with her flunkies behind her. Wes and Rui promptly found a door closer to their entrance and opened it up, climbing in with the hopes of hitching a ride if she should take off; once they were in, they made their way to the front of the train.
The train was full of computer units and cages that looked set to topple from the slightest jolt - which meant that they were too distracted to notice they weren't moving until they reached the front of the train, and found it empty.
"Where did she...?" Rui glanced around the control panel. "Where's Venus? Why isn't this thing moving?"
"Oh, my! You are so easy to dupe!" The voice from outside drew their attention; Venus was standing on the platform, near the arch leading back up. "Did you really think I'd risk taking you to the Lab with me!? That train isn't going anywhere without this key!" She raised something off which the light gleamed; Wes glanced back at the control panel and found an empty ignition. "Bye-bye - and this time, I mean it! Don't you dare forget about me!"
"Wait-!" The door on this end was closed; Venus was already through the arch by the time Rui got it open. "Dang. Now what?"
"This train leads to that Lab of theirs?" Wes mused. "We've gotta get that key off her somehow. Let's hope she doesn't get too far ahead!"
+x+x+x+
'Getting too far ahead' turned out to be no concern of theirs; as Wes and Rui stepped back into the open room with the elevator, they found the key sitting on the floor.
"What?" Wes picked up the key. "She makes all that show of taunting us with this and then leaves it behind?"
"If a dress has pockets," Rui observed, "it's a trial getting your hand in there. She must have tried to pocket it in a hurry and missed the gap." She shook her head. "Anyways, her haste is our good fortune. Let's go see what this Lab is like."
Draco: Snattle's Shadow Pokémon in XD are all based on simple representations of things that are only rarely portrayed accurately - sun, moon, and stars. I had all of them as his normal Pokémon, included Castform because he's clever with his Forecast, and included Cryogonal as his Shadow Pokémon because snowflakes are another thing that's infrequently portrayed accurately and is often simplified.
But I also made Cryogonal his Shadow Pokémon because Cryogonal are frickin' rare. I mean, honestly. Tops out at 5% chance in Unova's Twist Mountain during the winter, and only shows up 4% of the time in Kalos' Frost Cavern. I have never encountered a wild Cryogonal. I had to revise a dream team because I can't get one.
Really nice thing about using XD's Shadow move list for a variation on Colosseum's Shadow Pokémon list; Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres each had a Shadow signature move based on Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Flamethrower. Despite Suicune being a Water-type, she has numerous Ice-type moves in her natural learnset; and because Shadow moves aren't normally typed, Suicune using Shadow Chill wouldn't be any less potent than Entei using Shadow Fire or Raikou using Shadow Bolt because STAB doesn't factor in.