Wes and Rui make some necessary preparations to go to Pyrite Town, but first there are three Cipher Peon members blocking the exits, each having a different Shadow Pokemon. Wes must battle one of these members and snag his Shadow Pokemon in order to proceed forward.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters.

Chapter 5: Mysteries of the Shadow Pokemon; Fight against Cipher Peon Bluno

Es Cade's Theme - Pokemon Colosseum

Wes and Rui were about to leave the mayor's office when they suddenly heard a voice cry out "Hello...are those guys gone yet?"

It was Mayor Es Cade who was coming down the stairs to see them.

"Yes, they're gone now Mr. Mayor." Rui replied. "Thank goodness you're okay, we were worried about you."

"Oh thank you very much for chasing away those Cipher Peons." Es Cade said.

"Cipher Peons...?" Rui asked surprised.

Wes was also surprised and he thought (So those guys I fought, they're from Cipher?)

"Oh yes" the mayor replied sounding quite cheery. "Lately these Cipher Peons having been coming in and out of the city day and night. They even break into my house constantly, ohhh very frightening indeed."

Wes gave him a weird look. A few moments ago Miror B. and the other Cipher Peons just infiltrated his house and it seemed like Es Cade had to hide upstairs. But he didn't sound afraid, not even a little.

"Uhh you seem kind of un-phased by all this which worries me a little. You deal with this sort of thing a lot?" The trainer pondered.

"Now now I'm grateful that you're worried about me but rest assured that I'm fine. It happens all the time so there's no need to fret." Es Cade responded.

Wes and Rui looked at each other, then back at the mayor.

Es Cade walked back to his desk and added "Now then I shall continue investigating on these strange pokemon, don't you worry about a thing just leave it to me."

With that Rui said goodbye to Es Cade and she and Wes went out the door.

I Saw Something Again - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness

As they walked around the city Wes noticed something strange. The three Cipher Peons were blocking the exits out of Phenac City. The green one blocked the west exit near the mayor's house, the blue one was blocking the south, and the red one blocking the east. Something had to be done about them but first he needed to go to the Pokemon Center to heal up his team. Then he needed to stock up on healing potions and other medicines too in case his pokemon needed to recover during battle.

"There's something weird about that Es Cade." Wes said.

"Hey don't talk like that Wes." Rui responded irritably. "He's doing what he can to help us."

"Come on Rui, these Cipher creeps came here, invading the mayor's house and he acts like this is all normal. Don't you think that's strange? Something funny is going on here."

...

"Huh...now that I think about it, that is odd." Rui replied. "Especially if Es Cade is so optimistic during times like this. Still he is the mayor of Phenac City so there's no need to get suspicious."

Wes didn't say else anything after that, but he thought of that strange evil looking man with the wavy gray hair he saw the other day. Who was that man? What was he doing at the mayor's house? Was he behind the Shadow Pokemon Plan? The many questions ran through his mind, but the trainer was sure that he would find some answers sooner or later.

Outside - Pokemon Channel

Wes and Rui first went to the Pokemon Center and got his pokemon all healed up. Next they went to the Poke Mart to get some medicines that he would need. The Poke mart had many different kinds of medicines and they came in little spray bottles. Some of them would help the pokemon recover their HP, such as regular potions and super potions. Others medicines would cure the pokemon of status problems such as antidotes for poisoning, paralyze heals for paralysis, ice heals for frozen Pokemon, burn heals for...well burns, full heals for any status problem, and revives, which were small yellow diamonds that would help revive the Pokemon that have fainted.

There were also awakenings that helped wake up a sleeping pokemon but in the Orre region Pokemon Trainers hardly ever used them. Instead all they had to do was call on their Pokemon and they would wake up. Ice heals weren't needed that much either since there were hardly any Ice type Pokemon in the region, therefore the chances of Wes's Pokemon becoming frozen were slim to none.

Wes and Rui were now at the counter inside the Poke Mart; the trainer told the store clerk what kind of medicines he needed.

"Let me confirm this real quick." The clerk said. "You want five potions, three antidotes, three paralyze heals, and two burn heals?"

"Yes" Wes replied.

The clerk got out all the medicines the trainer asked for and set them down on the counter.

"Alright that'll be 3,450 Poke dollars." He said. "Use them wisely."

"3,450?!" Rui exclaimed. "Isn't that expen-"

"Sure." The trainer simply replied and payed for the items. Then he put the medicines away to use later.

(How in the world did he get that much cash?) Rui wondered. At the end of each Pokemon battle Poke dollars were payed out to pretty much any trainer who won. Since Wes was so good at winning Pokemon battles, money was never an issue for him.

He looked at Rui and said "I think we're ready now."

Rui nodded in agreement and the two went out to challenge one of the Cipher Peons that were blocking the exits. Soon they approached the blue Cipher Peon.

Music stops

"Hate to burst your bubble there trainer but on the orders of Mirror B. I cannot let anyone leave this place." The Cipher Peon said.

Wes didn't say anything. He just stood there glaring at him.

"I said no one can pass through here, that means you too." The Peon said again sounding impatient.

Still Wes did not say anything as he stood his ground. The Cipher peon could see that the trainer was determined to get past him.

"Alright how about this, if you manage to beat me in a Pokemon battle then I'll let you pass."

"I accept your challenge." Wes replied.

Wes vs Bluno

Vs. Trainer - Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire

The Cipher Peon named Bluno sent out his two Pokemon. A purple gooey mud monster-like Pokemon called Grimer, and a small bouncing pig-like Pokemon with a pearl on its head called Spoink.

"This should be easy." Wes smirked as he sent out Umbreon and Espeon. Rui observed the opponent's Pokemon carefully; she didn't see any dark aura on neither one.

"Espeon Confusion on Grimer!" The trainer ordered.

Espeon directed its attack towards Grimer, using its psychic powers Grimer was hit causing major damage.

"Spoink use Psywave!" Bluno shouted.

"SPOOOOINK! The Pokemon shot an energy wave towards Umbreon and hit it, but the attack didn't do anything.

"What's going on, why isn't it working?!" Bluno shouted.

"You idiot." Wes snickered. "Don't you know that Psychic type moves have no effect on the Dark type Pokemon?" Rui giggled as she watched the battle.

"Shoot" Bluno groaned. "Grimer use Sludge!"

Grimer hurled some purple sludge at Espeon but took little damage since Poison type moves weren't very effective against Psychic types.

"Umbreon, use Faint Attack on Spoink!"

Umbreon vanished, then reappeared in front of Spoink and attacked it. Spoink was instantly knocked out and Bluno recalled it back to its poke ball.

"Not bad, but can you handle this?" The peon remarked. He then tossed another Poke ball and summoned a blue alligator-like pokemon called Croconaw. Rui could see that the Pokemon was giving off a purplish black aura.

"It's another Shadow Pokemon!" She exclaimed. "Wes try to snag it from that Cipher Peon!"

Bluno heard that and said "So the girl has the ability to identify Shadow Pokemon eh? No matter, I'll finish you off soon enough."

"I don't think so." Wes responded. "Espeon finish off Grimer with Confusion!"

Espeon once again used its psychic abilities and hit the Grimer with an invisible force. Grimer fainted and Bluno recalled back, and now only Croconaw remained. Wes decided that he would do the same thing he did with Makuhita, weaken it and then snag it when he got the chance.

(I'll have to be careful though. I know that Shadow Pokemon will attack other trainers so that Croconaw could attack me at any moment.) The trainer thought.

"Croconaw, use Scary Face!" Bluno commanded.

"Crooooc" Croconaw's eyes flashed as he made a scary face at Espeon, making the sun pokemon shiver. This move frightened the target and reduced its speed.

"Umbreon use Secret Power! Espeon, Reflect" Wes shouted.

Umbreon shot a powerful beam at Croconaw; it took the hit but it could still fight. Then Espeon summoned a mystical barrier around itself and Umbreon to increase their defenses.

"Croconaw, Shadow Rush!" Bluno commanded.

Wes felt his heart skip a beat as soon as he heard that and he thought (Oh no here it comes.) Croconaw powered up and then charged straight at Wes while it exuded its negative energy.

"Wes watch out!" Rui shouted. Fortunately at the last minute, Espeon and Umbreon once again jumped in the way and took the hit. This time the two pokemon sustained much less damage thanks to the move Reflect.

"Good thinking on your part guys." Wes responded. "Espeon use Helping Hand! Umbreon, Secret Power again!"

"Espe-oon" Espeon release a small light towards Umbreon to boost its power. Umbreon then shot another beam at Croconaw doing more damage. The shadow pokemon was becoming weaker but it still wasn't enough.

"Croconaw use Bite!" Bluno ordered.

Croconaw bared its fangs and charged towards Espeon ready to bite on it.

"Dodge it and use Return!"

Espeon swiftly dodged Croconaw's Bite attack and then charged at the shadow pokemon. It took major damage and then fell to the ground.

"Now's your chance to snag Croconaw, it should be weak enough now." Rui cried.

"Right." Wes responded.

The trainer took out another empty poke ball and held it out in his left hand. The poke ball started glowing and then the trainer threw it towards Croconaw. The poke ball opened up and a big hand-like flash of light came out grabbing Croconaw and bringing it into the poke ball. The ball fell to the ground and it jerked as the pokemon tried to get out. Then the poke ball stopped moving...Croconaw was caught.

Battle ends

Music stops

"Say...that thing you have on your arm" Bluno pointed out. "That's a portable snag machine isn't it?"

The Cipher Peon noticed that Wes was wearing the snag machine but the trainer didn't seem to care.

Bluno continued, "Yes, its no wonder that you were able to snag my Shadow Croconaw. But I highly doubt you'll be able to save ALL of the Shadow Pokemon. Until we meet again trainer."

The Cipher Peon walked away and Wes picked up the poke ball containing Croconaw.

New Bark Town - Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver

"Good work out there you two. Get some rest now" The trainer told Umbreon and Espeon as he recalled them back into their poke balls.

"Well now that he's gone I guess...we can go to Pyrite Town." Rui said sounding a little nervous.

"Yes" Wes replied. "I'm sure that we'll find more Shadow Pokemon there."

Wes walked out of the city exit. He then got on his motorbike and started it up...but he noticed that Rui wasn't in the sidecar. Instead the trainer saw that she was just standing there beside the wall.

"Are you coming Rui?" He asked, but Rui didn't move nor did she respond. She just stood there looking frightened like she'd just seen a Gastly. Wes got off the motorbike and walked up to her.

"Hey what's wrong?" The trainer asked, with a look of concern.

"Umm well I...I...uhhh...I'm scared." Rui responded sadly.

"Scared...of what?"

"Of going back to Pyrite Town."

"Why?"

"Because...there's a lot of thugs and other scary people that live there." Rui shuddered. "What if I get kidnapped again?"

Wes couldn't blame her for not wanting to go. The teen girl had previously been there before and she got captured by Folly and Trudly because she could sense dark aura that exuded from the Shadow Pokemon. But she was here now with Wes, the man who rescued her so this time it would be different. The trainer would be right there by her side and make sure that she wasn't captured again. Wes placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"It's okay Rui" The trainer told her. "No one is gonna kidnap you under my watch. You'll be safe with me, I promise."

Hearing that made Rui feel much better and she nodded her head in response. With that, the two got on the motorbike and they set off for Pyrite Town. The town was pretty far away from Phenac City, but Wes's motorbike was really fast so it wouldn't take too long to reach their destination.

Hope you guys enjoyed that. Just a little heads up that I may just skim over Wes battling the trainers in the dual square and snagging their Shadow Pokemon in Pyrite Town. I don't want to put in every single battle because that would kinda just drag things out.