Chapter 10: Beautiful Perfection (Arrival in Pyrite Town)

Needless to say, Ein was more than just a little miffed when he was informed about what had happened to Sierra during the meeting later that day.

In fact… he was downright furious.

"Ein… I'm perfectly fine, trust me," Sierra tried to reassure him, after about twenty minutes of listening to him cursing Evice with every profane word in existence. "There isn't any sense in continuing to curse him… Ho-Oh is probably tired of listening to you do so, for the love…"

Ein sighed, and shook his bang out of his face. "That's not the point…" he said, in a somewhat calmer tone of voice. "I know that Nascour wants us to put up with Evice just a bit longer… that he still is serving his purpose… But I've had it up to here with him! I'm tired of him walking all over us, treating us like crap… If I had been there, Sierra, you know damn well I would have—"

Sierra cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I know perfectly well what you'd have done. You would have mangled Evice far worse than Nascour ever could. I've heard it before…"

An awkward silence hung in the air for several moments, before Ein finally sighed again and decided to give up. Sierra always had been the sensible one of the two siblings; he knew quite well that listening to her would most likely be in his best interests. "It's just… I don't… You're my little sister, Sierra. I'm supposed to make sure nothing happens to you…" he mumbled.

"Ein… that's sweet and all," Sierra said, smiling at him from where he sat at his computer. "But I'm not the little girl you've had to take care of all these years. I've grown up…"

"Yeah, yeah…" Ein frowned and turned back to his computer, a little embarrassed. He hated getting sentimental with anyone, even his sister. "So… didn't you have something else to do for Nascour?"

"Hm? Oh yeah," grumbled Sierra, remembering that she had to find another direct subordinate for Nascour. "I'm gonna have to set up a meeting with Gonzap, right? Damn… I am not looking forward to that…"

Ein smiled slightly. "You'll be fine," he assured. "Remind him to send the rest of the Snagged Pokémon to me, while you're at it."

"Sure, sure…"

"And… um…" The Cipher Admin fidgeted for a moment, unsure of how to word his next request. "…I'd… feel a lot better if you took someone along with you when you meet him. Ya know?"

"Take someone along?" repeated Sierra. She thought about this, and shrugged. "Ok. I'd prefer not to be alone over there anyway…"

"That a girl," Ein smirked, his kindly demeanor starting to fade away. "Now take care of things elsewhere, I've got work to do."

Sierra giggled, and, before turning to leave the laboratory, leaned over Ein's shoulder and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "See ya later, bro."

Ein allowed himself one last tiny smile, before engrossing himself back in his work again. "See ya, Sierra…"

As the next morning's first light fell over Pyrite Town… within a certain room of the Pyrite Grand Hotel slept three young teenagers and their Pokémon, their sleep not yet disturbed by light nor the commotion of others.

Shifting his position in the chair where he slept uncomfortably, Alexander sighed and turned his face away from the light filtering in through the blinds over the window. From in his lap, his Espeon purred softly, continuing to sleep as well.

Across the end of the bed, Rui slept with a sad look upon her face, her arms around both Espeon and Umbreon as she held them close to her. Her eyes squinted at the morning light coming through the window some, but she stayed asleep as well.

And Wes…

Lying in the bed with the lines of pain still tight in his face…

Wes stirred.

Slowly, painfully, Wes's eyes opened, bringing into view the peeling, faded-white ceiling of the hotel room he was lying in. The first rays of dawn slowly trickling through the blinds of the window illuminated his pale face with a gentle glow. Hesitantly, he sat up to take a good look at his surroundings.

And realized… he wasn't in pain anymore.

"What in the name of Lugia…?" Wes quickly touched at his ribs, feeling for any pain where Makuhita had punched him the day before. Where the bones had felt cracked and unnaturally out of place before, they were now completely good as new. He sucked in a deep breath, and was greeted with no sharp pain whatsoever. "What? Am I… healed? But how…?"

Wes quickly looked over at the end of the bed, and smiled in relief to see Rui sleeping there peacefully. He drew his legs up carefully to avoid disturbing her, and turned his head to see another individual in the room, sleeping in a chair with an Espeon on his lap. He seemed only about a year or two older than Wes, but there was something that suggested he had seen much, much more in his life than Wes ever had. He wore his aqua-green hair back in an insanely long ponytail that touched the floor, and had a longsword in its case on the floor close by. A large scar, nearly three inches long, streaked across his left cheek; starting at the bridge of his nose, crossing dangerously close underneath his left eye, and ending slightly past his cheekbone.

Ok… I don't know who that guy is, but I guess he's all right, Wes thought, as he noticed a nightstand next to him with all his belongings on it; his belt of Pokéballs, the Snag Machine, the small pack of items that hung off the back of his belt, and his shades. His trenchcoat and shirt were draped over the back of another chair nearby. But… what happened? How was I healed? I thought I was supposed to die! And who's this guy who—

"Well. Looks like someone's up," came a soft voice, making Wes's head snap back up. The young man in the chair slowly straightened up with a noticeable wince, as his Espeon hopped out of his lap and stood obediently next to her master.

Wes nodded at the statement. "Yes… Who are you?"

"My name's Alexander. You must be…"

"Wes."

Alexander smiled, and stood up. "That's right. Wes." He sweatdropped painfully as he straightened all the way, and he rubbed at his lower back with one hand. "Ouch… sleeping in a chair like that probably wasn't the best idea…"

"Probably not," Wes said, with a slight smile. He wasn't sure who Alexander was, but somehow, he felt that this was someone he could place trust in easily. There was something there, something that assured him there was nothing to fear. "So… what happened? How long have I been unconscious?"

"Since yesterday," Alexander replied, rubbing at the back of his neck now. "Thankfully, I found you two when I did, or you might have died from internal bleeding. Poor Rui, was worried sick about you, she was."

"I can imagine," Wes murmured, casting Rui an affectionate glance. Don't worry anymore, Rui, I'm ok… "What has she been doing since yesterday?"

"Worry… watch over you… worry some more… But she's fine. I saw to that. I even got your Pokémon healed for you."

Wes was surprised. "You did?"

"Certainly."

"…So, did you stop that thug who was trying to get Rui? I remember him a little, but then I passed out…"

Alexander nodded, and began to twist some of his hair around his finger in an absent way; a gesture Wes would soon come to recognize as a sign of deep thoughtfulness in him. "I certainly did. Soon after, I brought you two here to the Pyrite Grand Hotel, where you've been ever since."

"Wow…" Wes wasn't sure what to say. "Why… why did you do that for us? We're complete strangers to you, and you…"

A ghost of a smile tugged at the young mercenary's lips. "Ah… Well, I wasn't going to leave a beautiful girl like Miss Rui to a thug. Nor to grief. It was more for her than anything, no offence if you please."

"I see," Wes replied, mentally rolling his eyes. Figures! He just was doing it for superficial reasons, like winning Rui! …Ah well. I'd be dead now if it wasn't for him, and Rui left to the mercy of the criminals hanging around Pyrite. "Well… thank you. I owe you."

"That you do…" Alexander turned around, still trying to stretch out the cramps in his back and neck. "But let it not worry you right now. You probably still need rest."

Wes shrugged. "I'm all right," he assured. "Just a little sore overall, but ok. So… how was I miraculously healed? I thought for sure I was gonna die…"

"Miraculous indeed… Well, just undo those bandages and take a look."

Puzzled, Wes slowly unraveled the bandages around his chest, and found, to his surprise, a feather. It was a dull, red-orange color, as if a brightness once there had been sucked away, leaving the shell behind. He slowly took it in his hand and turned it over before him. "What is it?"

"That, Wes, is a Ho-Oh feather."

"A Ho-Oh? You're kidding!"

Alexander laughed softly. "I don't kid too often, I must confess. No, that's a real Ho-Oh feather. It was once gifted with immense healing powers, but it's all been used up on healing your injury. That is why it's such a dull color now."

Wes frowned. "Where did you get it?"

"I stole it," Alexander replied simply, with a hint of pride in his voice. "From the Pokémon League Grand Master of Kanto and Johto. She's bound to the Legendary Ho-Oh, so it would make sense she owns a few of its feathers."

"Well… I'm not sure what to say, really," Wes admitted, watching Alexander sit back down in the chair. He wasn't exactly sure if he believed this story about stealing Ho-Oh feathers from a 'Grand Master' (whatever that was), but it supposed it didn't matter in the long run when it meant his life was spared. "I mean… should I congratulate you on stealing a life-saving feather?"

Alexander shook his head. "No… I wouldn't want you too. Stealing is wrong, is it not?" he grinned. "Nonetheless, it's good to see that the feather worked, and you're alive and well."

Espeon and Umbreon suddenly stirred, and got up simultaneously with wide yawns. Upon seeing Wes up, they cried out for joy, and leaped into his arms.

"Hey there, buddies," Wes smiled, hugging his Pokémon pals. "It's great to see you too. I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry about me…" He glanced over at Alexander to see him slowly undoing his hair and combing it out, and took the opportunity to ask more about this new ally. "So… Alexander…"

"Hm?"

"I'm… assuming you mess around in the criminal world a bit?"

"Quite right. And I'm assuming you do too?"

Wes shrugged. "I used to. But not anymore. What are you into?"

Alexander seemed to warm up a bit more to a subject he could see Wes eye-to-eye on. "Well, now… I'm what's called a traditional mercenary, a group of individuals who usually work alone, and are armed mainly with swords or similar archaic weaponry," he explained eagerly, as if he had been waiting to tell Wes this. "This is my prized longsword, the Aquatic Night." He bent over to retrieve his sword, and drew it with a metallic sound. The impressive blade gleamed slightly in the sunlight spilling through the blinds, making Wes's eyebrows rise.

"That's pretty cool," he admitted, noting the large sapphire pommel stone set into the hilt. "Of course, you can use that thing in battle."

"Now why would I lug around a great big thing like this all over Johto to clear out here, and not be able to use it?" asked Alexander in a mock-confused tone. "I certainly can, and so can every other traditional mercenary out there. Only dishonorable fools would carry a sword around and not be able to use it effectively. Not that it doesn't take practice to use one well. This I know."

"Are you one of the 'elite'?" Wes asked teasingly.

"I don't know enough traditional mercenaries to truly tell, but I'm told I'm one of the best," Alexander murmured, sheathing his sword again and putting it down on the floor. "I usually frequent Johto, and there I'm known as the 'pirate prince of Johto.' I usually put my skills to thievery, although there are so many more things I could easily do…"

"What are you doing here in Orre, then?"

At that question, Alexander's azure eyes dimmed slightly. They reminded Wes a bit of Rui's eyes; except that hers were much wider and cuter. Alexander's were soft and calm, showing no fear whatsoever. "Ah… It's… personal business, I must admit. I have business with an old… friend of mine who has suddenly resurfaced. That is all."

Reading Alexander's face, Wes could instantly tell there was betrayal and suffering behind his words. Like him, the young mercenary was troubled by his past, and was attempting to set things right. Wes had learned to see into the motives of others by his time in Team Snagem, and he could see that Alexander's motives were fueled by a desire for vengeance, and a chance to lay old demons to rest. Realizing that, Wes decided not to press any further. "I understand," he murmured softly.

Alexander nodded ruefully. "So… what criminal activity have you found yourself involved in?" he questioned back, a little more lightheartedly.

"Hm? Me? Oh… well, I used to be a Snagger for Team Snagem…"

"Team Snagem?" Alexander repeated, sounding almost horrified.

Wes froze uncertainly at the sudden surprise in Alexander's voice. Did his past have something to do with Team Snagem? That might explain things... "Er… yeah… But that's over and done with now. I left them just the other day."

"And you met Rui."

"Yeah… how'd you know that?"

"Rui told me a few things… like how you rescued her and whatnot… Not a whole lot, since she was so worried about you," Alexander explained, looking a little more relaxed. "It seems… Team Snagem wants her for her powers… she can see these mysterious… Shadow Pokémon."

"Do you know about Shadow Pokémon?" Wes asked.

"I encountered one the day before yesterday in battle… It was a fierce little thing, and powerful too."

"Yeah… I Snagged two of them away from some of the crooks trying to kidnap her."

Alexander's head snapped up again. "You Snagged two?"

Wes nodded. "Yeah… I kept the Snag Machine from Team Snagem… I'm trying to help Rui save all of the Shadow Pokémon… She wants to rescue them, and I want to protect her and get to the bottom of this mess."

"How very noble, Wes…" the older teen mused. "Taking on such a task as saving the Shadow Pokémon of Orre from a dangerous criminal team… You do realize, however, that such an undertaking will be quite dangerous for both you and Miss Rui? I mean… after all…" Alexander's eyes strayed to Rui's sleeping form for a moment. "…I don't wish to seem unconfident in you, Wes, but… she could be a weakness."

Wes's eyes hardened with resolve. "She's much more determined than you might think," he argued. "If there's anyone who'll stop Team Snagem's plans… or this Team Cipher, too… it'll be us."

"Ah… So you've heard of Team Cipher as well."

"Yes."

"Very interesting…" Alexander picked his sword up again, and attached it to his belt as he continued. "Well, Wes, I suppose there's no stopping you or Miss Rui, then, is there? I just ask one thing…"

Wes barely blinked. "And what would that be?"

"You must promise… that nothing happens to Miss Rui."

"What?"

"She's a lovely, innocent girl…" Alexander said softly. "It would be a terrible shame to have something terrible happen to her. Just… just assure me you'll take good care of her."

"I'd do that whether you asked me to or not," Wes reassured. "Rui's in good hands."

Just then, Rui herself began to stir from sleep, making Wes and Alexander both turn to look at her. With a great big yawn, she stretched herself out, and then sat up. She rubbed her eyes for a moment, and blinked; first at Alexander, and then at Wes. Her eyes lit up with joy upon spying the latter.

"Wes!" she shrieked happily, flinging herself upon the teen before he even had time to blink, throwing him flat against the bed again. "Oh my gosh! It worked! You're ok!"

Wes winced as his head collided with the bed's headboard. "Oww…"

"Oops! I'm sorry!" Rui gasped. "I didn't mean to do that!"

"Surely not," Alexander chuckled softly, putting his hair back in a ponytail. "It seems everything is all right now."

Rui nodded enthusiastically. "I… Wes, I was so scared…" she whispered, laying her head on Wes's chest, as if to make sure he really was alive by listening for a heartbeat. "I thought… you would leave me…" Her tears found their way back into her eyes again, despite her attempts to hold them back. "Please don't do that again…"

For a moment, Wes lay frozen where he lay. Is this right? he wondered, his hand hesitantly rising to run his fingers through her red hair. I can't… feel like this for her… can I?

Alexander watched the two for several moments; a strange expression of tenderness, longing, and frustration flicking across his face. Then it was gone, and he awkwardly cleared his throat. "Ah… well… It seems you two are well…" he said, with a sweatdrop. "Er… the both of you up for some breakfast?"

"I am!" Rui exclaimed, getting off of Wes and straightening the wrinkles in her clothing. "Alexander… thanks so much for all of this. Helping Wes and being so nice to me…"

"You're quite welcome…" Alexander murmured, his eyes softening as he looked up to regard her. "Now… I suppose I'll let the two of you get ready… In the meantime, I have a little errand I need to run… I'll be back, assuredly."

Wes raised an eyebrow. He'd better… I don't want to be charged with the room or anything. "All right… see ya later?"

"But of course." With that, Alexander turned and exited the hotel room in an instant, with his Espeon right on his heels.

As soon as he was gone, Wes sighed and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Rui… How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine!" Rui smiled, putting on her jacket and pulling on her pink boots. "Why are you asking me that? You're the one who… almost died."

Wes got to his feet. "I know… It's almost hard to believe I'm still alive. That whole Ho-Oh feather story is kinda hard to believe, I have to say," he confessed, as he found his shirt and pulled it back over his head. "But I'm not complaining."

"You shouldn't," Rui giggled. "Oh, Wes… I'm just so glad you're ok. I can't… I can't even describe how happy I am to see you better…" To Wes's second surprise of the morning, she suddenly threw her arms around him and hugged him again, snuggling as close to him as she could. "You're… you're my best friend."

"I am? But we just met, what, the day before yesterday?" Wes questioned, uncertainly putting his arms around her waist and holding her closer to him. "How can you place such absolute trust in me… and not worry that I could hurt you? How can you be friends with someone you just met?"

He felt her giggle into his shirt. "Wes… I told you…" she said. "It's difficult to explain, but… I feel like you're someone I've known all my life. Someone I can place complete trust in without fear of being hurt. You know… how I can see Shadow Pokémon, right?"

"Right…"

"I can see the Shadow Pokémon by sensing their anger, their fear, and their hate. All the dark emotions within them. I can do the same with people, too. And I sense absolutely nothing like that in you. I know you've had a dark past; that I can see… But your heart is good."

"Rui…"

"We've been through a lot together just in the past two days. And you've proven to me exactly how much I can trust you—a lot. So why can't we be best friends already?"

Wes didn't answer her. He knew she was right; after all, he felt the same way about her. He knew, deep down, he could trust her, no problem. And the way she said he had a good heart… Wes had never been told anything even remotely like that in his life.

"Friends?"

He looked down into Rui's wide, eager eyes; blue as the desert sky, and as vast and bright as one as well. He nodded, feeling his insides practically melt at her innocent charm. "Friends," he confirmed, gently twisting the fingers of his right hand in her hair; grinning at the sight of her pleased smile and the sound of her contagious laugh.

From where they sat on the bed, observing Wes and Rui with great interest, Espeon and Umbreon shared a knowing smile. Their master had a soft spot in his heart after all. And her name was Rui.

Outside on the streets of Pyrite Town, Alexander squinted painfully against the light of the sun as he stepped outside. He breathed in deeply for a minute to clear his thoughts, before continuing on towards a certain building, dilapidated and seemingly empty…

"I'm glad you found those two yesterday, my dear," he murmured to Espeon walking next to him.

"Espi-esp!" exclaimed Espeon, looking pleased with herself.

"It pains me to learn that they're going to try to contend with Teams Snagem and Cipher themselves, though… Ho-Oh be willing, they'll get through things all right. But they haven't even tasted Team Cipher's true force…"

"Espi esp espi?"

"Wes is a good person," Alexander assured, stopping at the front door of the building and gazing up at it. "I can tell. And I'm sure Rui wouldn't be with him in the first place if he was untrustworthy. No… I believe he'll take good care of her. We, on the other hand, have our own objectives… Let's make this quick."

He stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"…So. Nascour needs a new flunky, is that it?"

Trying ever so hard not to reply with some obscene comeback, Sierra simply gritted her teeth against Gonzap's cheeky question, and nodded to the vid-screen before her in another section of the lab. "Correct. If one of your members is worthy of filling the position, Team Cipher would assuredly compensate for the loss from your team."

Gonzap grinned at Sierra with amusement. "Such big words from such a little girl," he scoffed. "Well, now. How am I to know what Nascour wants in a direct subordinate, hm? Should I make them write resumes and submit them to Nascour for consideration? Hm? Hm?" He burst into mocking laughter at his own words.

Sierra couldn't take such insults to Nascour. She respected him very much, and felt privileged that he placed so much trust and responsibility within Team Cipher with her. "Master Gonzap," she said slowly through her teeth, "your ridicule of my Master Nascour is not appreciated."

"Is that so?" Gonzap retorted, the smile fading from his face. "Aren't you a little suck-up. Well, then. How will the new subordinate be determined?"

"I'll go to the Snagem Hideout myself and personally analyze each of your members," Sierra replied. "I'll be sure to pick the most qualified member I can."

The Snagem Head smiled faintly. "And my repayment?"

"Name it."

"…Very well. There's a Pokémon I would like to be made my personal Shadow Pokémon. Is that acceptable?"

Sierra nodded. "I'll pick it up along with the other Snagged Pokémon you were supposed to send my brother a week ago," she said meaningfully.

Gonzap chose to ignore her remark. "Also… I want a place in this tournament you plan to hold at Realgam Tower when construction is finally complete."

"...We can discuss that when I get there. I'm afraid I have to untangle a few other details with Master Nascour before I can start promising things."

"Very well then, Miss Sierra," Gonzap said, with a slight bow of his head. "When do you plan to come?"

"As soon as possible. Today, even. And I won't leave until I find a suitable replacement for Master Nascour's direct subordinate."

Gonzap laughed again. "I'll be waiting for you, then," he said. "And I'll be sure to prepare accordingly for your arrival…"

Sierra's face froze at the way he said his last phrase. She didn't even want to think about the innuendos behind that statement. "I won't be alone," she added quickly.

"…That will be fine. Till later, then?"

"Till later. Good day, Master Gonzap."

The vid-screen went blank, and Sierra heaved a sigh of relief. Thank Jirachi that was over with. Well, if her profound hatred of Gonzap hadn't been obvious to the Snagem Head before, it certainly was now. And Sierra was grimly amused to see that disliked her as well. Now… all she had to do was find a person to take with her. But who would she trust enough to drag along to the Team Snagem Hideout with her?

She thought.

And thought.

Until it was obvious who she should bring. It was as clear as the nose on her face.

"Why didn't I think of it sooner?"

"Er… you want me to come with you, Miss Sierra?"

A speedy 25-minutes later, tearing all the way through Realgam Tower to Nascour's offices, Sierra beamed at Travis's bewildered expression as she stood before him. "Yes. It's perfect. You've been on Team Snagem before, so you'll be able to help me sort out who's definitely not qualified, and who might be."

Nascour cocked his head at the two from where he sat at his desk, filing paperwork. His neck was stiff—damned that he'd slept poorly on it the night before—and he really was not enthusiastic to be working through all this garbage. As a result, the work was slow as could be.

And Koyasha practically sitting in his lap, kissing him silly was not helping matters either.

"It sounds rather wise, if I may comment," he spoke up, making the two teenagers look up at him. "And it would be much better for Miss Sierra to work with someone as kind and as competent as you. Wouldn't it, my dear?"

Sierra nodded, trying to ignore Koyasha practically drooling down Nascour's neck. That is so damn sick! And she doesn't even care if we're watching her either, which makes it worse! she thought darkly. Sierra disliked Koyasha immensely. She just abhorred the way she could manipulate Nascour any way she damn well pleased. If there's one thing I hate about you, Nascour, it's your girlfriend… "That's right, I'd hate it if I got some idiot tagging along with me. Have to repeat everything twice and kick him in the pants every once in a while… Meh. No thanks to that."

Nascour grinned. "See, my darling Koyasha? I told you Sierra's a girl after my own heart."

Koyasha nodded, nuzzling her face into Nascour's hair. "I do see. She despises idiot peons as much as you do…" she purred. "Well done, Miss Sierra."

"Er… Thank you… Lady Koyasha…" Sierra stammered awkwardly. "But Travis, you're a smart guy. You'll be perfect."

Travis nodded. "All right. I'll go with you. With your leave, my Master Nascour."

"But of course. Dismissed."

Travis and Sierra bowed, and then quickly beat a hasty retreat out of the office. Once a safe distance away, Sierra gagged. "Ew… that was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," she moaned. "Koyasha slobbering all over Nascour? No. Not a cool sight."

"I'll say," Travis murmured.

Sierra giggled. "Bet you're glad I saved you from witnessing that all day," she teased.

"Er… Yes. Thanks." Travis brushed at some of his spiky white hair a little, before smiling at Sierra.

She smiled back. "Err… I don't mean to sound nosy, but… Do they… you know… get it on at night?" she asked in a breathy whisper. "I mean, you work in the same offices they do, so…"

Travis quickly shook his head. "No. Surprising as that seems, they don't," he answered confidently. "I heard Nascour tell Koyasha he would retain his honor for what it's worth as long as he can."

"Thank Jirachi for that traditional mercenary honor…"

"Um… I was wondering, Miss Sierra… Who is Koyasha? Where does she come from?"

Sierra shrugged, as the two got into the elevator leading down to the lower levels of the tower. "Beats me. I think she's got a deal set up with Nascour for some plans outside Orre… I wouldn't know where, though," she admitted. "Must not be important, if Nascour won't tell."

"Do you… like Koyasha?" Travis asked next.

"No… I don't really," Sierra said. "But… if she and Nascour are in love, who am I to judge? I say let them do what the hell they want with their lives." To this, Travis nodded in agreement. With a sigh, Sierra glanced at her watch, and looked to her new partner.

"Ok… we'll have to pick up my laptop down in the admin lounge… Venus better not have stolen it again… And then… this is what we're gonna do…"

She continued to relate her plans to Travis as the elevator opened, and they continued down the hall.