Chapter 6: The Place My Life Begins

Later into that afternoon, Sierra was finally relieved to have finished delivering all the Shadow Pokémon to the rest of Team Cipher's Admins without too much hassle. Even having to face Master Evice hadn't been so bad, either. All in all, when all was said and done, Sierra found herself finished up in the beautiful city of Phenac, where for once she could truly relax and not have to worry about keeping one hand on her gun at all times.

But, then again, Sierra knew she couldn't stay long. She still had plenty to do, as Master Ein's direct subordinate. She knew he'd be in need of her help soon enough, and she wasn't about to let him down. So just a quick little stop to rest up… and she'd be on her way.

After purchasing a bottle of water out of a vending machine (well, two, actually—Sierra was quite fond of manipulating the machine when no one was looking and getting more than her fair share of drinks), she decided to sit down next to the fountain in the middle of the city where it was nice and cool. She took several grateful gulps from one of the water bottles, and then paused to check her watch. "1:50 already?" she remarked in surprise. "And I haven't even had lunch yet. Ein's so gonna get it if he hasn't—"

The sound of someone sniffing softly nearby startled Sierra from her reverie. Looking up, she saw a girl not too much older than she, sitting several yards away on a bench near a house. The girl had reddish-orange hair and big blue eyes, which were reddened with tears. She looked so forlorn and distraught that Sierra's interest was immediately perked. Who could be so depressed in such a beautiful city as Phenac?

After running through all the possible risks in her mind, Sierra finally got to her feet, throwing her first empty water bottle carelessly over her shoulder (and donking some poor teenage kid running around with his Castform in the head… not like she cared, of course) and walking over to the girl. She cleared her throat loudly to get her attention. "Hey," she said, adopting a friendly tone of voice, in contrast to her usual frank, arrogant one. "Are you ok? What's the matter?"

The girl shook her head. "Nothing… I'm ok…"

"I don't think you're ok," Sierra responded. "You look like you've been crying."

"No, really… I'm fine. It takes me a while to stop crying once I've started, that's all. I'll be all right."

Sierra held back a frown of irritation. This girl was no fun at all. For once, I try to be a nice girl, and I get refused. Not fair…

"Well… whatever are you crying about in the first place?" Sierra tried again. "Phenac's a peaceful, nice city, there's nothing I can see that should make someone cry."

The girl looked at her lap. "There… were a few… criminals… Over by the stadium…"

"Criminals?" gasped Sierra. Damn losers better not be Team Cipher, or there'll be hell to pay…

"Yes… Team Snagem criminals…"

Sierra inwardly sighed in relief. She couldn't care less about Team Snagem; she hated Gonzap's slimy guts with an intense passion. "That's terrible! What were they doing?"

"I… nothing. It had something to do with the person I was with earlier…"

Now this was interesting. Who could Team Snagem be so interested in that they would risk an encounter in broad daylight, in front of other people? "Oh? Well, is he, or she, ok?" Sierra asked. Then a thought struck her. "They didn't get… caught by Team Snagem, did they?" Team Snagem was certainly known to do that…

"No… he didn't…"

"Then what's the matter?"

The girl was silent for a while before looking up at Sierra again. Her eyes were filled with tears. "If… if you had a friend… whom you put your absolute trust in… and they turned out to not be the person you thought they were… What would you do?"

Sierra frowned. "Absolute trust?" The only person I would ever put absolute trust in whatsoever, besides myself, is Ein. Certainly no one else but him. "Well… did he turn out to be a horrible person?"

"Horrible? No… but he…"

With a sigh, Sierra turned around to go. Her patience only went so far, and this girl was getting far too dramatic for her taste. "Look… if he wasn't a horrible person, then he can't be all that bad. Bear in mind, it's a tough road to finding a perfect person in Orre," she said. "You can't expect your friends to be everything you want them to be, ya know."

"…I… I can't…?"

Sierra snorted. "Of course not!" she scoffed. "If you expect perfection from anything, you're bound to be disappointed…" Then she shrugged. "But then again, I could be wrong…"

The girl smiled a little, but didn't respond.

"Well, I really must be going now…" Sierra continued. "Hope this mess gets all cleared up, true friends are a commodity here in Orre… Most people I've met are no-good double-crossers who wouldn't think twice of betraying you to get a little more cash… or power." She winked, turning to go. "Who knows, maybe we'll see each other again…"

"But wait, what's your name?"

A slight pause. "You can call me Sierra."

The girl nodded. "I'm Rui. And I hope we do see each other again, you're really nice…"

Sierra blinked. She had been called lots of things in her life, both good and bad, but never had someone described her as "nice." She really didn't know what to say. "Well… maybe not as nice as you think…" she responded, thinking of several unscrupulous tactics taught to and used by her to keep everything in Team Cipher running smoothly. "But you're welcome." And with that, she was gone, off to continue her work within Team Cipher. Rui… hmm… I'm gonna have to remember that…

Rui, in the meantime, had begun to think over what Sierra had told her. Her thoughts inevitably crossed back to Wes once more. "Wes…" she whispered, closing her eyes against the tears threatening to come, as the effect of Sierra's words washed over her. "Can I really forgive you…?

"I wish I could…"

At about the same time, Wes himself was leaning against the back of the mayor's house with an emotionless expression upon his face, eyes closed and arms crossed. He had been standing like that ever since Rui had left him, and although he hadn't spoken a single word, Espeon and Umbreon, sitting faithfully on either side of him, could tell he was hurting deeply inside.

I never should have even bothered with her, Wes thought bitterly. Why did I think I could make amends to myself by being soft with her? When I was with Team Snagem… I didn't need anyone but myself. Maybe I should just go back and…

Nah. Gonzap would never take me back, at least not without making sure I regretted ever leaving. I'm not putting up with that ever again. So now what? Should I just be a lone wolf now? I guess it wouldn't be that bad… But I'd never be worth anything in anyone's book ever again. Maybe I should never have left… I had a good career with Team Snagem, just like Donel and Cavel said. I used to be the best Snagger on the team… Now I'm nothing.

"Espi…" Espeon, picking up on Wes's thoughts, nuzzled his leg comfortingly.

Wes took a deep breath, and kneeled down to hug his only two friends in the world. "You two still think I'm worth something… don't you?" he asked softly.

"Espi!" "Umbri!" His Pokémon immediately nodded their heartfelt agreement.

"But it's all over…" he sighed, turning his gaze towards the center of Phenac City. "Ah well. Let's go…"

With one last glance, towards where he imagined Rui to be at that moment, Wes stood, and slowly walked off, towards the exit and off to wherever life would take him next.

"May I help you in some way?"

Back in Pyrite Town's Colosseum lobby, Alexander turned his head up slowly to meet the receptionist's eyes, making her blush. "Actually, I just had a few questions to ask."

The receptionist smiled. "Ask away."

"Well, for starters… Does this Colosseum really give away mysterious Pokémon as prizes?"

"Um… yes… But that's not my job," she replied. "The prize Pokémon are distributed by Master Miror B."

"Master Miror B.? Who's that?"

"He is the sponsor and coordinator of the Pokémon Colosseum's knockout challenges, and—"

"That isn't true!"

Startled, both Alexander and the receptionist turned to see a boy standing behind them, arms crossed in annoyance. He seemed only about 14-years old, and had short, spiky silver hair. He pointed directly at Alexander, and stated, "Don't believe that for a minute. Miror B. came to Pyrite Town and took over the Colosseum from Duking!"

"Who's Duking?" Alexander asked.

"He's the real coordinator of the Colosseum," replied the boy smugly. "I don't know how he did it, but Miror B. is a crook. I'll make sure to stop him." And before another word could be said, the boy turned and left the way he had come.

Alexander and the receptionist gave each other uncertain looks. "Who was that kid?" he asked.

The receptionist sighed. "That's Silva. He's a good-hearted kid, but he always sticks his nose into things that don't concern him, and often get him in trouble…" she said. "Don't listen to him."

"Hm, all right. So… back to this whole knockout challenge… I suppose it's not the time to enter?"

"No, I'm afraid not. The next one will be in a few days, though. Would you like to enter in advance?"

Alexander shook his head, and winked at her. "No, that's quite all right. Perhaps later…" He turned, and strode outside once more, deep in thought.

Things have gotten even more complex in Orre than they already were, he mused darkly to himself. But I won't let Team Snagem or Cipher stop me… I'm going to infiltrate the heart of this… and then…

… Both teams will pay for all the grief they've caused me…

Rui was starting to wander around Phenac City aimlessly now, not knowing nor caring where she was going. And with her aimless wandering, her mind began to wander too, as it sometimes tended to do…

"You're a special girl, Rui." Her father's voice, echoing in her mind. "That's why I'm worried about you. I just don't want anything to happen to you…"

"Don't be scared of the world, Rui." A different voice now, one that spoke to her often, but which had no face. She had often tried to remember who he was, but… his identity eluded her… "If you're afraid of something, just ignore your fear and keep going. That's what I do."

"Rui, if nothing else, I want you to learn to love. There are so many types of love in the world… The one I have for you is unconditional… It means that I will always love you, no matter who you are or what you do…" This voice was that of a woman's… and although she could barely remember… it was her mother's voice. The only face she could picture was that in a photograph back home. Her mother's voice… it always brought tears to her eyes…

"You can't expect your friends to be everything you want them to be, ya know." Sierra, that girl from earlier… Her words came back, almost as insistently as they had been spoken...

"I'll protect you from now on, I promise…"

"Wes…" Rui's eyes filled with tears again, and she stopped walking, a sudden realization filling her. "You… you never meant to hurt me… I see that now…" she whispered. "You're not perfect… but you're not bad either…I'm sorry…" Rui turned around, hoping that maybe Wes was standing around waiting for her, but he wasn't. "I'm so sorry, Wes… Come back… Please… You… You're the only friend I have…"

"Well, well, don't have Wes around to protect you anymore, do ya?" Rui turned around quickly, and gasped to see the same two guys who had encountered her and Wes near the Stadium… Donel and Cavel. Donel stepped towards Rui with a grin, making her shrink back in terror. "The boss ordered us personally to catch you… We're not giving up after just one try."

"Leave me alone!" Rui cried, looking around wildly for anyone around who would help. But she had foolishly cornered herself back at the stairs leading up to Phenac Stadium, where there really wasn't anyone around. "Help, somebody!"

"I don't think so," Cavel laughed, and he suddenly leaped forward and grabbed Rui's arm, making her scream. Donel quickly grabbed Rui's other arm and found a pressure point on her neck. He pressed it, causing her to pass out.

"That wasn't so hard," Donel laughed, looking at her. "Let's take her back to the boss."

"Over my dead body."

The two criminals instantly whirled at the voice, and blanched in fright to see Wes, along with Espeon and Umbreon, standing there. Wes pointed at them, and spoke dangerously. "Don't even think of taking her anywhere."

"Wes, come on, pal…" Donel pleaded hopefully. "We can be a team again. Come back with us to Team Snagem! I'm sure Master Gonzap would be glad to have you back…"

"Heh, fat chance," Wes replied, approaching the two. "Why would I leave Team Snagem if I wanted to go running back to it the next day?"

Cavel panicked, and quickly drew a pocketknife. "We're serious, Wes," he said, holding the blade to Rui's throat. "Back off, or she's dead."

A smile tugged at the corner of Wes's lips. "Espeon," he spoke, and suddenly Cavel was lifted up into the air, helplessly flailing against Espeon's awesome psychic powers.

"Damn you, Wes!" Donel snarled, watching Cavel suspended in the air above. "That's it! If you won't come back, I'll make sure you don't live to regret your stupid decision!" With that, the Team Snagem member dashed forward at Wes; fists raised, ready to fight.

Umbreon growled, but Wes stayed the Dark-type with a wave of his hand. "I'll take care of him, don't worry," he said, dashing forward to meet Donel face-to-face. He dodged Donel's first punch, blocked the second, and then kneed him in the gut, causing him to fall back in pain. Before Donel could get his bearings back, Wes knocked him to the ground with a scissor kick in the face, and then stepped contemptuously at his throat with one foot, making him gasp for air.

"You really can't take a hint, can you?" Wes whispered dangerously. "Ok, here's your last chance. Leave Rui alone, or I'll be more than happy to pull on you… what Cavel over there threatened to pull on Rui."

"You wouldn't kill me, Wes," Donel managed to choke.

"I would, I could, and maybe I should. I don't really care at this point." Wes smiled coldly down at him, and stepped off of his throat. "So make your choice."

Donel sat up, clutching at his bloody face. "All right, we'll leave, Wes. You win, and you get to keep the girl." At a nod from Wes, Espeon released Cavel also, who quickly went to his friend in order to help him stand.

"Good. And tell Gonzap that if he or any other Team Snagem members attempt to take Rui again, they'll all have me to deal with. Understood?" Wes asked. Donel and Cavel nodded, and both ran out of the city through the nearby exit.

Satisfied, Wes turned to Rui now, who was now unconscious, but had Espeon and Umbreon licking her face. He slowly walked over to her, and kneeled down, putting the back of his hand to her cheek. "Rui… wake up," he whispered. "It's ok now; those two are gone for good."

A few moments passed, and slowly, Rui's eyes opened back up, her blue irises meeting Wes's golden ones uncertainly. "W-Wes?" she said uncertainly.

"Yeah. You ok?"

Rui sat up slowly, looking around. "Those two…"

"They're gone," assured Wes, checking her up and down for any injury. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"No… I'm all right…" Rui replied. "Wes… You… You came back… You saved me… again…"

Wes shrugged, giving her a smile. "Yeah, so? No big deal."

"Even after I… yelled at you?"

"Hey… I wouldn't leave a lady in distress."

Rui's eyes welled up with tears again, and, to Wes's complete and utter surprise, she suddenly threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. "Wes… I'm sorry…" she cried. "I'm sorry I accused you of being still a criminal. I'm sorry I thought I couldn't trust you. I'm sorry for not believing in you. I'm sorry—"

"Stop! Rui, calm down," Wes interrupted, gently holding her back from him enough to see her face. "It's ok. I forgive you. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything about me right off. I wanted to leave my past behind… and I didn't want you hating me before we…" He trailed off, a bit uncertain of what to say next. "… Before we became friends."

"So… We are friends?" Rui asked hopefully.

Wes looked down out of embarrassment, and quickly nodded. "If you want to be friends with an ex-Team Snagem member," he reminded.

"That doesn't matter anymore, I see that now," Rui told him. "I've never had a friend before… I mean, I've had people I talked to and got along with. But you… We've only just met today, but I feel you're a person I could be friends with forever." Then she giggled. "I hope that doesn't sound too… I don't know. Clichéd, or something."

"It sounds fine," Wes assured her.

"Thanks… You're so sweet… I won't ever forget this, Wes…" she promised. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. You'll always be my gallant prince who rescued me in my time of need."

Wes sweatdropped. He hadn't been expecting a comment quite like that, and suddenly wasn't quite sure what to say. "Uh… No problem… I guess…"

Rui giggled again at the dumbstruck look on Wes's face, and quickly pulled the both of them to their feet. "Wes… I don't want you to feel like you're being forced to do anything… But I know what I have to do now," she continued in a suddenly serious tone, as she faced Wes.

"What's that?" he replied.

"After seeing that strange Pokémon in Pyrite… I feel like I have to do something about it now. I've been thinking about it all day, but now's it's clear: that Pokémon has to be saved."

Wes was surprised at Rui's sudden determination. "You want to save it, Rui?"

"I have to. Something terrible was done to that Pokémon, and I want to know what," she insisted. "I… I don't know where to start, but… I would appreciate it if… you would help me…" At his blank expression, Rui quickly added, "But you don't have to. You've done enough for me already. I… I'll manage…"

Wes shook his head. "No way. I'm not letting you go out there alone to try and get to the bottom of this mystery. I'm going to help you."

"Really?"

"I'd feel bad if I didn't," he grinned. "Besides, what else am I gonna do? No offence, but if you go out alone, you'll just be snatched up again by more of those kidnappers, I guarantee it. Besides… you don't have any Pokémon with you to protect you."

"That's true," Rui said, blushing. "Sorry… I had the idea down, but not much more than that… So, you really do want to come with me? It could be dangerous…"

"Ahh, you'll be around to protect me, I'm not scared," Wes replied, in an unconcerned way.

The two stopped and stared at each other for a moment, then immediately burst into laughter.

Later that evening, Wes and Rui both lay awake in the room they had checked into at the hotel, staring at the ceiling from each of their beds. After their big reconciliation, the two had agreed to begin their heroic-but-uncertain quest the next morning, and spent the rest of the day just hanging out in Phenac City together. They had talked and visited all the places they could and eaten dinner and everything. With all that had happened that day, it wasn't too surprising to find they were having trouble falling asleep.

On one side of the room, Rui sighed, and held back a pleased smile as she snuggled back into the bed comfortably. The night was cool and calm, the window was wide open, and Rui had tossed her blue and pink jacket over the end of her bed in order to sleep comfortably. For the first time since yesterday, she felt truly safe, and happy with the way things were. And one of those things not least of all being Wes.

Rui had found she had learned a great deal about Wes's character since she'd met him. He was quiet, serious, and wayward overall, but he seemed to open up a great deal to her. With her, Wes was gracious and unassuming; suggesting that while he had been with Team Snagem as far back as he could remember, he had learned how to be courteous to girls somewhere. He also possessed an infrequent, but witty sense of humor. Rui had never met anyone like him before. She felt that no matter what she said or did, she would always look good in Wes's eyes, and that made her feel all the more comfortable with him.

Across the room, Wes himself was thinking along the same lines as Rui was. His trenchcoat and the Snag Machine lay on a chair nearby, and on the end of his bed Espeon and Umbreon were snoozing comfortably as two tight little balls of fur. Espeon gave a tiny growl in his sleep, and Wes smiled, sitting up momentarily to pet the Psychic-type comfortingly. Plopping back down against his pillow, Wes turned his head to glance over at Rui for a moment, a slight smile tugging at his mouth.

In the same way that Rui did, Wes had learned a lot about his new friend and her personality. She initially came across as a shy and gentle little girl who couldn't even imagine an unkind word against anyone, but he soon found she was more than that. Rui enjoyed talking to other people as long as she felt comfortable around them or felt they weren't a threat, and above all things cared for Pokémon, family, and friends. She was sweet and bubbly, and her laughter never failed to lift Wes's spirits up, which caused him to go out of his way to make her laugh often. Most of all, though, Wes liked how sensitive and innocent she was, and how she placed complete and absolute trust in him. Such characteristics were nearly unheard of within Team Snagem, where only the toughest criminals survived, and he admired her all the more for it. He wasn't about to break her trust again, even for an instant. He would protect her just like he had promised.

I just hope… she doesn't remember me from back then…

"Hey, Wes? Are you still awake?" he heard her suddenly ask, making him turn his head to look at her in the bed across the room from his.

"Yeah. What's up?"

Rui smiled at him. With her hair taken down and spilling down in red, silky waves around her bare shoulders, she looked even prettier and more innocent than ever. Her blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight as she sat up straight in bed. "I was thinking…"

Wes sat up also. "Really?" he asked, straightening his black, necked, sleeveless shirt (he wears it under his coat, of course) as he did so. "About what?"

"I had an idea… It's a strange one, and I'm surprised I thought of it, but it makes sense."

"What is it?"

Rui blushed. "See… I was thinking… maybe… you know, that strange Pokémon needs to be saved… And I'm sure staying with that trainer isn't going to help it… So, I was thinking… we… you… If we got some Pokéballs somewhere… You could, you know…"

It took several seconds for Wes to interpret all that broken speech, but it dawned on him what she was trying to get at. "Wait… do you mean to say… you want me to Snag that strange Pokémon when we see it?"

"You can, though, can't you?" Rui pressed. "You can Snag it?"

"Well, sure I can. But…" Wes paused, and frowned at her suspiciously. "I thought you didn't like the idea of stealing other trainers' Pokémon."

"I don't. But… I… Well, think of it like this. That trainer obviously doesn't care that there is something terribly wrong with his Pokémon. He just cared about winning, I think. I don't believe in stealing, but… if it will save a Pokémon's life…" Rui trailed off, sounding a little ashamed. "I'm sorry. Maybe it's not such a good idea. And… you probably don't want to steal Pokémon again. Forget it, I—"

Wes held up a hand to silence her. "Rui, calm down. Your idea makes sense. What better way to understand what was done to that Pokémon than to catch it for ourselves?"

"But… you…"

"It doesn't bother me to steal Pokémon, Rui, I've been doing it all my life. But this time… it'll be for a just cause. Right?" He closed his eyes with a tiny smirk. " 'The end justifies the means.' My boss always told me that…"

Rui brightened. "So… you think it's a good idea?"

"We've got nothing else to try," Wes affirmed. "The only thing we need to do now is get some Pokéballs… and then find the guy who had that strange Pokémon you saw."

An elated giggle filled the room, making Umbreon and Espeon look up in surprise. Rui covered her mouth. "Sorry!" she apologized. "But… I'm so excited! This might just work! And we'll be saving that Pokémon!"

"Calm down, calm down," Wes insisted. "Get some sleep now; you'll need it for tomorrow."

"Ok, I'll try…" Rui lay back down on the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut. "Goodnight, Wes."

"Night, Rui." Wes lay back on his bed as well, turning over to muse on Rui's idea. A frown crossed his face. He hadn't been lying; Rui's plan had been an excellent one. But… he had purposefully neglected to tell her one very important detail: there wasn't any market for Pokéballs in Orre. Who needed Pokéballs, when you couldn't even catch Pokémon? If anyone ever needed Pokéballs, they were usually ordered from Johto, which could take a few weeks to arrive. Team Snagem itself had a deal set up with someone in Hoenn to supply Pokéballs to its Snaggers.

No need to burst her bubble, though, he thought with a smile. Rui seemed so proud of herself for thinking that up… Let's just see if there is a place we could get some Pokéballs that I don't know of… His thoughts then went to Rui herself, just for one moment more. She's such a sweet girl… I hope I live up to everything she wants me to be… I don't want to be a disappointment to her.

At last, Wes finally closed his eyes, for the first time feeling he was truly free from Team Snagem's influence.