Draco: PRE-SUBMIT EDIT: The first chapter came out on Tuesday, Saskatchewan time. I intended for that to be a weekly update rate and promptly thought better of it. This chapter will be coming out on Thursday, and the story will thereafter be updating Monday-Wednesday-Friday. END PRE-SUBMIT EDIT
So, something about the character designs in Orre give off a very... Legend of Zelda vibe. I don't know about you guys, but I liked the Zelda series' #VoiceGrunting to the point when I was initially concerned when Breath of the Wild had actual voice acting (fortunately, they proved my concerns unheeded). For an Orre game, I think they would have gone Zelda-style with the voice acting if they were to include voice acting at all (I mean, Let's Go and Galar proved that you can have an HD game with no voice acting and make it look good, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't consider it).
The side effect of that theory is that, given I'm writing this story as though it were a literation (novelization, whatever) of the game I concocted, I initially entertained the idea of writing Wes as a proper #SilentProtagonist like Red. I ran into several problems with that. Most of them are spoilers that should become clear later.
But I was saved from not realizing the problem until then, and having to either involve awkward workarounds or make him #SuddenlyVoiced, because one of them is the fact that just about the first thing Wes does as playable is introducing himself to Willie and I have no idea how to do that with a #HeroicMime.
Refresher for my Pokémon fics that I abbreviate Pokédollar as pd (pronounced 'piid'), because the P with a double-strikethrough isn't in Unicode and 'Pokédollar' is a bit much to say in a hurry.
Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo and the Pokémon Company.
Chapter 2: The Combatant and the Gifted
The Outskirt Stand; a small, unimportant gas station in the southeast corner of Orre. It didn't really have anything that the nearest city didn't have - at least, nothing that the average Orrean trainer concerned himself with - but with the region's arid nature, a lot of people appreciated having a place to stretch their legs, grab a refreshment, maybe find themselves a little more likely to meet another trainer for a battle. The Outskirt Stand had medicines for Pokémon, a variety of refreshments for humans, and gasoline for any vehicles that happened to be running low when they came by.
It also used to be a train.
One particular guest was something of a regular visitor to the Outskirt Stand - a pink-haired Rider by the name of Willie. The sun was setting on Orre, and he was just sitting down with a can of lemonade when the TV on the wall turned on, drawing his attention to the news report that appeared there.
"Surprising discovery today, at the site of a series of explosions in Eclo Canyon." An image of a blast appeared next to the newscaster; Willie initially assumed it was an aerial shot taken by a camera drone before she resumed speaking. "This picture was taken by a Pokémon photographer in the upper zones of Mt. Battle, who witnessed the first explosion and was able to capture the second before reporting the event. Authorities rushed to the site of the blast to discover what appeared to be the ruins of a hideout for the infamous Pokémon thieves, Team Snagem. Snagem members were nowhere to be found, and the police suspect that they have fled the location for their personal safety prior to or during the devastation."
The first image vanished, replaced with a photo of a man in a hooded red vest over a tight tank top, and a pair of black cargo pants leading to combat boots. "Citizens are advised to refrain from confronting any Snagem members they should encounter. Team Snagem is known to utilize a device known as a Snag Machine, capable of catching Pokémon belonging to other trainers. If you witness a Snagem member, please report it to the authorities as soon as possible."
"Just a water's fine, thanks."
Willie's attention was drawn to the counter, finding someone had arrived without his noticing; a figure with dull silver hair, dressed in a deep blue longcoat. It was somewhat asymmetrical, with a pauldron on one shoulder and a shape over his hand like it was the Black Yang's. He had a tinted visor of some sort lifted over his brow, leaving his green eyes visible; his skin was somewhat tanned, but with a patch below his eyes that looked like warpaint or something. Glancing outside revealed a ride that hadn't been there before - a beast of a bike that looked like it could cross any sands in Orre, with a sidecar holding an Espeon and an Umbreon curled up together.
As the newcomer started past the tables with a bottle in hand, Willie greeted him. "Hey there. You new around these parts?"
"You could say that," the newcomer admitted; acknowledging the invitation, he took the seat opposite Willie. "I've driven past, but I don't usually have cause to stop in."
"Fair enough," the Rider conceded. "I'm Willie, what about you?"
"Wes."
Willie beckoned his head towards the window. "Those your Pokémon out there?" he asked. "You must be a pretty decent trainer. I can see it in your eyes. Mind if I ask you for a battle?"
Wes hummed. "If you like, I suppose," he conceded. "Just got the two, though."
"No worries," Willie insisted, getting to his feet. "I'm not gonna come at you with a six."
With a smirk, Wes rose for himself, raising his drink to his mouth as he started back out; Willie grabbed his can of lemonade and followed the newcomer out of the stand. As they made their way down the ramp, Willie noticed the other patrons watching out the window.
Wes lowered his bottle and called out. "Espeon, Umbreon. You up for some fun?"
Umbreon gave an enthusiastic call as he leapt out of the sidecar; Espeon rolled her eyes before following suit. Wes met them halfway before turning to Willie, who smirked and took a stance like he had his hands on the handlebars of a bike of his own.
"I've been looking forward to a match like this," he admitted. "It's full-throttle time!"
You are challenged by Rider Willie!
"Come on, Zigzagoon! Let's roll!"
Wes smirked as Willie flung a pair of Poké Balls off his belt; they struck the ground before him, and two Zigzagoon appeared before him - one male, one female, both ready for a scrap. Espeon and Umbreon took position before him as he eyed the two Pokémon; they looked like Willie had raised them well, but they weren't particularly extraordinary Pokémon, either.
His left hand lowered from his belt as he swept one hand forward. "No holding back, you two!"
Espeon twisted, the jewel on her forehead glowing as a Psybeam surged towards one of Willie's Zigzagoon, striking him full-on. The other dashed haphazardly towards Umbreon, slamming a Headbutt into the Moonlight Pokémon; Umbreon took the hit and dashed towards Espeon's target, slamming into him for a Feint Attack that left him reeling. Willie hissed in empathy as Zigzagoon tried to stay up, only to fail; the Rider raised his Poké Ball, returning him as the two Eeveelutions turned to the other.
Umbreon took a low stance as Espeon's jewel glowed again, this time to no noticeable effect. An ephemeral moon appeared above the Moonlight Pokémon, easing the pain he'd taken from the Headbutt; as the wounds lifted, Zigzagoon was close enough to strike Espeon with a Headbutt as well. She promptly dashed away before the Sun Pokémon could retaliate, but Umbreon made to charge her in return; as he got close, Espeon's Future Sight bombarded Zigzagoon from all sides, and she stumbled before Umbreon raised one forepaw and slammed an Assurance into her side, throwing her back.
She cried out and fell to the ground, and Willie sighed, raising the other Poké Ball to return her as well. "Wiped out," he mused. "I still need seasoning."
Wes chuckled, stepping forward as his Eeveelutions cheered. "Hey, don't feel bad," he insisted. "I had fun."
"Same here," Willie assured him. "But yeah, you're tough. Real tough. Did a real number on us." He drew out a few pd for the prize winnings. "Why not test your skills in Phenac City?" he suggested. "It's out west of here."
"I was actually headed that way for other reasons," Wes admitted, "but, what's this about testing skills?"
"Well, it's a trainer's haven," Willie pointed out. "There's a lot of trainers a whole lot stronger than me, and most of them are there to stick around. You should go out there and get some battling in."
Wes nodded. "I'll think about it."
"You do that," Willie agreed. "Alright, see you around."
"Here's hoping," Wes imparted.
Willie headed back inside; Wes drained his bottle of Fresh Water and hurled it at a garbage can near the gas pumps before making his way up to his bike. Espeon and Umbreon hopped into the sidecar, Wes mounted the driver's seat, and they took off.
+x+x+x+
There was a large truck parked just outside the city when Wes arrived; it seemed to still have its engine running, although there was no one inside. Wes glared at the vehicle suspiciously as he turned his bike off and removed his keys from the ignition - only reckless people or those with suspicious business would leave their vehicle running without anyone inside. This wasn't Sinnoh; a properly-insulated vehicle wasn't going to get cold very quickly even after the sun went down, and there was still an hour or two of daylight left.
He dismounted his bike, and Espeon and Umbreon hopped out of the sidecar as he started into the city.
And a voice emerged from higher up the city, drawing his attention.
"Stop her!"
Wes raised his gaze; Phenac City was set up in tiers north-to-south, with the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart at the bottom, the Prestige Precept Center and some residential buildings higher up, and Phenac Stadium towering above it all. This gave an individual at either end a full view of the city - which meant that Wes, standing at the city's southern entrance, had a clear view of what was going on. A girl was running at a full sprint from around Pre Gym, with her hands together before her; a blonde figure was chasing after her, and a figure in a strange hat was running around the other side as though trying to cut her off.
As he made to lunge at her, pinning her legs, the girl leapt over him, leaving him falling to the ground as she started down the steps. The citizens of Phenac were watching with concern, and the girl wove around them, careful not to collide with anyone. As she made to circle the fountain, Wes saw that her hands were bound before her, and that there was a black cloth over her eyes; she was dressed in a denim jacket over a blue tank top and bright skirt, with red hair done in a pair of braids that hung over the back of her shoulders, and what seemed like a bandana was hanging around her neck, folded to a thickness and with a moisture stain that convinced him it had been used as a gag.
She skidded to a halt in front of Wes - he, Espeon, and Umbreon weren't broad enough to obscure the city exit, and Wes was about to speak up before the girl beat him to it.
"Help. Please."
Wes blinked, concerned - and then he saw her braids vibrating, as though moving in a wind that wasn't there.
His train of thought was derailed when a yell of "There she is!" drew his attention. The girl turned in the direction of the sound, stepping back in concern as the two who had been chasing her made to round the fountain; Wes promptly stepped forward, putting himself between them and the girl as they stumbled to a halt before the fountain; the blonde was dressed in jeans and a bicolored top with long sleeves, while the one with the strange hat had a bright orange jacket like construction workers might wear, and a workman's belt holding up a pair of slacks.
The odd-hat gave him a look. "What's the meaning of this?" he demanded. "You getting in our way?"
"And if I am?" Wes retorted.
The blonde aimed a finger at the bound girl. "That girl ain't none of your business," he reprimanded.
"Whether she's my business is my business," Wes reprimanded. "Not everyone is heartless enough to let a pair of kidnappers do as they please.
The two glared at him for a moment before their hands nearest one another moved. Wes had to admit he was impressed when they performed a wordless game of rock-paper-scissors, each pumping their hand three times and brandishing their selection; the odd-hat brandished paper to the blonde's scissors, and they moved their hands against one another to confirm the result without looking. The odd-hat slapped the blonde's shoulder in approval, and stepped back as his partner went for his belt, taking a fighting stance.
"If you're not gonna back off," he reprimanded, "then I guess we're gonna have to make you. Blame yourself for being in the wrong place at the wrong time!"
You are challenged by Shady Guy Folly!
Umbreon and Espeon moved forward as the blonde flung a pair of Poké Balls forward. A pair of Minccino appeared from the resulting flashes, and Wes smirked as he swung his hand forward. "No holding back!"
"Make it all the more satisfying!" the blonde retorted.
Espeon's jewel gleamed as the two Mincinno started towards Umbreon; he dashed forward to meet the nearest, slamming a Feint Attack into him full-bodied. The other lashed forward, striking a Double Slap into him once, twice, thrice; the other joined in the bombardment at the fourth hit, and as the fifth connected Umbreon found himself reeling from the remainder of the bombardment.
He quickly growled, a phantasmal moon appearing above him as Espeon launched a Psybeam at the one he'd struck. She tumbled back, knocked out, and as the other made to charge at her attacker, the Future Sight that Espeon launched earlier went off, sending him reeling. Umbreon quickly slammed an Assurance into him before she could recover, throwing him back towards the other and then stepping back in preparation.
The blonde withdrew his Pokémon and glanced at the Balls, his seething making it clear he didn't have anyone else at the ready. "You're tougher than you look," he muttered. "You're no ordinary trainer, are you?!"
The odd-hat started. "Wait, Folly... I think that's guy's-!"
"Huh?" The blonde gave Wes a once-over. "No way...!"
"We gotta tell Miror," his partner insisted. "Let's go!"
Umbreon and Espeon made to defend the girl as the two dashed past Wes; to little surprise, they ran up to the truck, leapt in, and drove off. A glance around the city revealed that the citizens, who had been watching the battle fearfully, were now starting to approach in concern. With a sigh, he turned to the girl, who had been. "You alright?" he asked. "Here, let me..."
The ropes around her wrists were bound tight enough - and sloppily enough - that it was easier to let Umbreon cut them than it was to untie them. Once her hands were free, she rubbed at her wrists briefly before reaching up, loosing the improvised gag from around her neck and letting it fall before removing the blindfold.
Her hair ceased its vibrations, falling against her shoulders as she opened a pair of bright blue eyes.
"Th-Thank you," she insisted. She glanced around. "Where am I?"
"You're in Phenac City," Wes replied. Offering his right hand; "I'm Wes."
"Rui," the girl returned, taking the hand to shake it. "I owe you one. I was in Pyrite when those two grabbed me. I... don't have any Pokémon of my own, so I couldn't stop them." She glanced in the direction her kidnappers had taken off. "I guess you're lucky that one chose to fight you."
Wes raised an eyebrow. "More like he drew the long straw," he mused, "but... what do you mean? Assuming they're equals in battle, I don't think-"
"It's not about their skill level," Rui interrupted. "They grabbed me because I saw one of them using a peculiar Pokémon. It had a..." She shook her head. "No, never mind."
"Never mind, huh?" Wes mused, crossing his arms.
"Um, excuse me, miss?" The voice nearby drew their attention to a woman who had made to approach them. "If you want to ask about strange Pokémon and their trainers, you should speak to the Mayor."
Rui turned to her. "That could work," she agreed. "Where is he?"
"On the city's second tier," the woman replied. "His house is near the west exit."
"How can a tiered city have exits anywhere but the first?" Wes wondered aloud.
The woman giggled. "Suffice to say," she admitted, "just because you can't drive a vehicle to the other exits doesn't mean you can't walk from them."
Rui turned to him. "Um, Wes? I know I'm imposing," she pleaded, "but... could I ask you to escort me for a while? Just in case those punks or their allies come back?"
Wes sighed. I was gonna try and avoid speaking to any authority figures... And yet, this seems a little more important than me looking for a good fight. "Alright," he conceded. "Let's go."
"Thank you."
Draco: Started playing Colosseum again as the closest thing I've got to a play-by-write. First battle with Willie - confused one Zigzagoon with Espeon, made the other flinch with Umbreon, the confused one inflicts self-damage, two-on-one by the second turn with no damage to Wes' team.
I think it's safe to say that Wes left Snagem because he figured out what they were doing with his Snags, but like a lot of player trainers, they don't go into his life before the events of the game and thus you don't get to learn why he joined Snagem. My theory is that he joined because, with Orre's lack of wild Pokémon, you've gotta be social enough to make trades if you want to expand your roster, so Wes decided to join Snagem to increase his variety options.
...No, that's not terribly sympathetic. Did you see that grin when he got the Snag Machine? That is not the face of a guy who intends to throw it away.
Anyways, Generation III suffers from a lot of #EarlyInstallmentWeirdness in regards to out-of-region Pokémon. All the Shadow Pokémon in Colosseum that aren't in the Hoenn Pokédex are fixed male for no reason other than to stop you from breeding them in RS before FRLG came out. It's ultimately meaningless. I am not going to be enforcing anything of the sort for this one, and Wes' Espeon is female.
Also, in the non-existent game this is based on, I imagined that all Pokémon in Orre would be fixed to have their Hidden Abilities where applicable, the same as forward transfers from the Gen I-II Virtual Console games. Make you seriously strategize about the battles.
For anyone who might not have witnessed the Orre games, a preemptive proclamation: I did not come up with any of these names, locations, or characters. I reworked the layouts of a few select locations, I've added or reordered some events, and I did a few minor things to some characterizations in the vein of ORAS, but all of it existed in some form during the original Colosseum and XD.