Wes and Rui travel to Pyrite Town to find out more about the Shadow Pokemon. This part of the story will play out a little more differently than in the game.

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

Chapter 6: Pyrite Town; The Old Town of Thugs

Route 30 - Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver

Wes and Rui were now traveling across the desert going to their next destination, Pyrite Town. As they headed for the town Wes wanted to ask her something.

"Rui" He called her, but she didn't hear him. Rui had one of her ears covered as she was trying to ignore the loud sound of the motorbike engines roaring.

"Hey Rui!" The trainer said more loudly.

"Oh...uh yeah?"

"I'm kind of curious, how exactly are you able to sense dark aura from the Shadow Pokemon anyway?" Wes asked her.

"Honestly I don't know." Rui shrugged. "I never knew I had this ability until now."

Wes remembered that back at Team Snagem's Hideout he overheard Gonzap conversing with a mysterious person about the Shadow Pokemon plan. That person said that the Pokemon would become shrouded in dark aura that no one could see. Yet Rui had this strange ability to sense dark aura and therefore only she could tell the difference between Shadow Pokemon and normal Pokemon.

"Well...because I don't think anyone else can see any black aura, not even I can." Wes said.

"I figured that too. I remember watching those bad guys battling other Pokemon Trainers at the Pyrite Town Duel Square, and when I first witnessed a Shadow Pokemon I could sense that it exuded the dark aura and I called out on it." Rui explained. "But I guess the bad guys didn't want anyone to find out about the Shadow Pokemon, and that was when they captured me."

"Oh...I see."

...

The pair continued on across the desert and along the way they passed by a construction site. Wes glanced over at the site, he could see that there was a tall tower that looked incomplete and the workers were cleaning up the lot.

"It looks they're building something." Rui pointed out.

The trainer remembered Gonzap mentioning something about Realgam Tower being built and that it wouldn't be done for another nine weeks. Could that work site really be the construction of Realgam Tower?

A few hours passed, and soon the sun started to go down. Wes and Rui were still traveling across the desert until...

Music stops

Wes's motorbike suddenly began to sputter and shake. The engines were pouring out black smoke. The motorbike slowed down and then came to a stop.

"Uhh why are we stopping?" Rui asked nervously.

Wes tried to turn on the machine (and he tried it repeatedly) but it was no use, the motorbike just would not start up.

"Darn it, I knew this would happen." The trainer muttered.

"What's going on?"

"Well, I've had this motorcycle during the years I worked for...Team Snagem. It has gotten pretty old though, it must finally be worn out."

"Wait so you mean...?"

"Yes..." Wes replied sadly. "It won't work anymore."

Wes and Rui got off the motorbike. The trainer looked around to see if there was anyone else traveling across the desert so maybe they could get a ride to Pyrite Town. To his dismay there was no one else out there, no trainer, no Pokemon...nothing.

"Well Rui, I guess we're walking." Wes said.

"Ohhhh" Rui frowned, she did not like the idea of walking out in the middle of the desert. The heat was unbearable for her, but seeing that the motorcycle was broken down and there was no other method of transport, they had no choice.

Wes took out the two bottled orange and cherry flavored juices that they got back at Outskirt Stand. He gave the cherry flavored juice to Rui and said "Here, gonna have to have these."

And so Wes and Rui had to travel the rest of the way through the desert on foot. It was a good thing they had those orange and cherry juices because they had to drink up to stay hydrated. Of course as they walked on Rui was moving much slower than Wes was, so the trainer would stop and wait for her whenever she fell too far behind. Fortunately Pyrite Town wasn't too much further away and soon they finally reached their destination.

Pyrite Town - Pokemon Colosseum

Wes scanned the place around them. Unlike the beautiful city of Phenac, Pyrite Town was a dirty run down old town with lots of junk lying around. The buildings here were made of rusted old metal and the Pokemon Trainers that lived here weren't very friendly. Some of these trainers were going inside their houses for the night while others stayed out to have late-night battles.

It was almost dark out so Wes knew that they needed to find some shelter. To his right he saw the Town Police Station, so he and Rui approached it. As they did Wes bumped into a punk looking rogue with green hair and a black jumpsuit.

"Hey watch where you're going fool." The green-haired thug said rudely. "What's the matter, can't see in the dark?"

Wes glared at him but then walked away towards the Police Station. He didn't want to waste time dealing with the town's thugs when they needed a place to stay for the night.

"That's right keep walking." The green-haired trainer taunted as they went in.

Inside the police station there was a stern looking man with gray hair and a mustache sitting at the desk. He saw Wes and Rui come in and approach him.

"Are you two travelers?" He asked them.

"Yes" The trainer replied. "My name is Wes and this is Rui. We're looking a place to stay but we're not sure where we should go."

"My name is Sherles." The man said. "And I wouldn't advise staying here in Pyrite if I were you. This town is full of bad people that go around making mischief. It might be best for you to leave town as soon as possible."

"Uhh actually we can't, you see my motorcycle broke down on the way here." Wes explained. "So we're kind of stuck."

...

"I see."

While they were having their discussion someone came rushing into the office, he smacked right into Wes and Rui and then spun around.

"What the heck...?" The trainer reacted. They turned around to see that it was another man, who was wearing a blue police uniform, and he became dizzy.

"Uhhh...uh sorry about that Chief!" He cried. "There's trouble...big trouble at the Colosseum sir."

The man shook his head and took a closer look at Wes. Then he said "Wait you're not the Chief, where's the Chief?"

"I'm over here Johnson." Sherles responded.

"Ohh hehehe there you are." Johnson chuckled. "So listen, there's trouble at the Pyrite Colosseum...they've been handing out-"

"I know." Sherles interrupted him. "You've said that many times before."

"Did he say Colosseum?" Rui asked surprised.

"Yes, we do have a Colosseum here that is ran by Duking. Many Pokemon Trainers go there frequently to compete in the knockout challenges." The Chief explained. "But lately there are rumors going around that they're giving away strange Pokemon to the winners of the tournaments."

(Strange Pokemon...I wonder if he means the Shadow Pokemon.) Rui thought.

Sherles continued, "Anyway, if you need a place to stay there's a Hotel you can go to. It's just a few buildings away, nearing Duking's house."

"Oh that's great, thank you Mr. Sherles." Rui said kindly. The pair started to leave but then...

"Hold up, just a moment." Sherles told them.

"What is it?" Wes asked.

"It's dangerous to wander around the streets of Pyrite at night. Johnson would you escort them to the Hotel?"

"Ohh uh yes, yes sir." Johnson responded giving him the solider salute. He then turned to Wes and Rui and said "Alright you two, follow me."

As soon as they were outside the sun had gone down completely, it was night time. Johnson led Wes and Rui down the street to the Hotel. The trainer looked around and saw the Duel Square, which was the center of Pyrite Town that was wide open with a big circle drawn on the ground. There he saw many Pokemon Trainers dueling each other with their Pokemon. He thought (Wow so these guys will get in a Pokemon Battle even at night huh.)

"Well here we are." Johnson said once they've reached the Hotel. "I'll be going back to the station now. You two be careful now okay?"

"We will." Rui nodded. "See you later."

Johnson walked off while Wes and Rui went inside the Hotel. In the lobby they were greeted by the Hotel owner behind the counter.

"Hello there and welcome to the Pyrite Hotel. It's 100 Poke dollars to stay for one night." The owner said.

The trainer handed him the money and then they went down hallway to their room. It had been a long day for Wes and Rui and they were both very tired. Rui was the first to lay down on one of the comfy beds in their room.

Mystery - Pokemon Colosseum

"Hey Wes..."

"Yeah what is it?"

"Sherles says that the trainers are given these strange Pokemon when the win the tournament at the Pyrite Colosseum."

"I know, I heard that." Wes responded. "It's gotta be the Shadow Pokemon, I'm sure of it."

"That's what I thought." Rui said. "Do think the trainers here all have a Shadow Pokemon?"

"Possibly." Wes replied as he laid down on the other bed next to Rui's. Once again the trainer was thinking back to that private conversation with Gonzap and the mysterious person, the latter said that Cipher would continue to send Shadow Pokemon to the winners at the Colosseum.

"Anyway, we should get some sleep now Rui, we'll start investigating first thing tomorrow."

Yup Wes's motorbike is broken now, bet you weren't expecting that were you? Don't worry Wes will get a new motorbike sometime later. Sorry that there was no battle this time but there will be one in the next chapter.