Author's Note: I do not own Wes, Rui, Umbreon, Espeon or anything related to do with Pokemon. They all are owned by Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo.
Chapter 2: The Outskirt Stand
Wes rode across the desert, his silver shades protecting his eyes from the flying sand. Umbreon and Espeon slept in the passenger cart, covered by a blanket. Wes looked down at them and smiled. He'd been travelling for a good nine hours now. He looked up ahead and saw the outline of what looked like a rusty old train carriage in the distance. Once Orre had had a railroad running from Johto to Mt. Battle, but since there weren't many people now, the railroad was closed down.
Wes pulled up outside the abandoned train cart to see it had become a restaurant and a petrol station, as there were green petrol tanks standing a few inches away. Also parked outside the cart was a Hover-Jeep and a strange moving bag was bundled in the back of the transportation.
"I wonder what's in there?" thought Wes as he clambered off his Spider Bike.
He didn't have time to investigate, as two men came out of the train cart. One had green hair and wore a blue hat with goggles. The other had orange hair that was spiked up. The green-haired man laughed and patted his stomach.
"Boy, that meal was awesome!" cried the man.
"Yeah, and we deserved it. After catching us a big threat like that," replied the orange-haired man.
"We'd better take are prize to our boss, so we can get paid," declared the green haired man, named Folly.
"You got it, Folly," said the orange haired man, who was named Trudly.
And with that, the two men boarded their Hover-Jeep and sped away towards the east. Wes watched the two men disappear into the distance, believing something was not right, when his stomach suddenly rumbled. He turned around and saw Umbreon and Espeon had awoken, and were staring unimpressed at him.
"Guess we better get some food," said Wes, rubbing the back of his head, rather embarrassed.
Umbreon and Espeon nodded and hopped out of the bike. Wes led the way into the Outskirt Stand. It was a peaceful place. Since it was once a train carriage, it was rusted, the walls brown from age. Some unused gears were seen on the back wall. A musical jukebox stood in a corner, beside a flickering wide screen television. A line of tables and chairs were placed along the right-hand side of the room, and a bar was on the left.
A bearded man stood behind the bar, wiping a mug, while a drunken man sat on a stool with his head in arms. A couple sat at one of the tables and a pink-haired boy, about Wes' age sat at the end table, trying to get a mobile phone to work.
"Hey there, you're an unfamiliar face," said the bartender, looking at Wes.
"I'm just travelling through," said Wes, taking a stool at the end of the bar.
"Ah! I'm Curtis, what can I get ya?" asked the bartender.
"Just a small one," said Wes.
Curtis turned away and then handed a bottle to Wes. Curtis then peered over the side of the bar and saw Umbreon and Espeon looking up at him expectantly.
"I've got just the thing for you," said Curtis and reached under the bar for several seconds and came out with two bowls of Pokemon food. He placed them on the stools, and Wes passed them two his Pokemon. Umbreon dived into the food straight away, like a hungry predator, while Espeon ate slowly.
Just then, the fuzzy television screen was replaced by a news studio and a brunette stood holding a microphone.
"This is Alison Twyford of PNN, just hours ago, the headquarters of Team Snagem was located in Elso Canyon. Police forces found it in ruins with a large hole in the left wing of it. It appears that someone has blasted the hole by using explosives. More information will be broadcasted as this story develops," said the news reporter, and the screen went fuzzy again.
Wes looked about nervously and took a final swig of his bottle, before placing it down on the bar.
"Those Team Snagem fella, they aren't half trouble. They made off with my Machop several months ago!" said Curtis angrily.
"And they took away my precious Clefairy!" sobbed the woman at the table.
Wes nodded and glared angrily into space. He then stood up.
"Thanks, Curtis," said Wes and he placed some Poke'dollars on the counter.
"No problem, pal. What was you're name again?" said Curtis.
"I'm Wes," said Wes, and he departed, Umbreon and Espeon following behind like lapdogs.
Wes exited the Outskirt Stand rather quickly, and he stepped up to his Spider Bike and sadly slammed his head on the side of the bike.
"That was a close one," he said to his Pokemon.
"Hey you!" shouted a voice and Wes spotted the pink-haired boy exit the stand and approach him. "You're a Pokemon Trainer, aren't you?"
Wes looked down at his obviously present Pokemon and nodded.
"Yep," he replied.
"Cool. I'm Willie, by the way. Do you want to have a battle?" said Willie.
"Well…" said Wes.
"Oh come on!" cried Willie. "I haven't had one in ages!"
"Hmmm… Willie, you've got yourself a battle," said Wes. "But I should warn you, I am tough to beat."
"Excellent!" cheered Willie and backed away from Wes. "Zigzagoon, go!"
Willie tossed two Pokeballs and out popped two brown raccoon Pokemon with yellow eyes and striped bodies.
"Umbreon, Bite Attack, Espeon, Confusion!" commanded Wes.
Espeon and Umbreon dashed forward.
"Zigzagoon, both use Tackle!" cried Willie. Both Zigzagoon bounded forward, but didn't get the chance. Espeon threw back her head and fired a telekinetic blast of energy at one Zigzagoon and knocked it out. Umbreon sunk his sharp fangs into the other Zigzagoon, and with a loss of blood and exhaustion, the Zigzagoon fainted. Willie was astonished and returned his wounded Pokemon to their containers.
"That was…unbelievable!" said Willie. "You should try out you're Pokemon at Phenac Colosseum."
"Where?" asked Wes.
"Phenac City, it is just east of here, about twenty miles. It was built in 1943 on an oasis, and it gets water from the oasis. There is a colosseum there, you should check it out," explained Willie.
"I'll do that. Thanks Willie, and sorry about you're Pokemon," said Wes and clambered aboard his Spider Bike with his Pokemon and sped away.