Draco: I was gonna have the Master Ball acquisition last chapter, but having the crowd deep-sea the mounted Snag Machine was too satisfying an ending for me to ruin.
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Chapter 17: March on Realgam Tower
"It was Wes, right?"
Wes and Rui were on their way to the Poké Mart when someone approached them - the Chaser whose Arcanine had nearly gotten Snagged. "Uh, hi," Rui greeted. "Is something wrong?"
The Chaser shook her head. "That boss guy said you were a defector of some kind?"
Wes nodded. "What about it?"
"Then here." She held out one hand. "You should be able to use this."
Sitting in her hand was the Poké Ball that had been launched from the Snag Machine - still dripping wet. Rui started when she saw it, the deep purple surface emblazoned with a white M between two pink bulges. "That's..."
"A Master Ball," the Chaser confirmed. "Supposedly guaranteed to catch any Pokémon it's thrown at. Not that Poké Ball producers design them to catch other people's Pokémon... but that doesn't mean much in the hands of someone with a Snag Machine." She handed it to Wes. "It's better for you to have it than Team Snagem."
Wes accepted it. "Thanks," he assured her. "Don't worry, we'll... put this to good use."
The Chaser nodded, taking off; Wes slipped the Master Ball into his Bag as he and Rui resumed their pace towards the Pokémon Center. "So," Rui asked, "mind if I ask what's your plan for that is?"
"Nett's working on decrypting a full Snag List," Wes observed. "Once he wraps it up, we'll know which Pokémon are left. That'll tell us who to use our most precious resources on." He sighed. "That said... there's a few Pokémon that are notorious around the world for being difficult to catch."
Rui gave him a look. "I guess a Snagger would know," she observed, "but what do you mean?"
"Most Pokémon," Wes explained, "if you can get them right to the edge of being knocked out, and put them to sleep, and throw a potent enough Poké Ball, it's guaranteed to click. But there's a few select species for whom no amount of preparation can guarantee the catch... unless it's a Master Ball. And those things aren't exactly a pack for a pd. I don't know where Gonzap got one."
They stepped into the Poké Mart, where a PC was lurking in the back corner; as they approached it, a TV illuminated on the nearby wall. "Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come!" Wes focused on the PC; Rui turned her attention to the screen as it showed a newscaster before an image of a massive white tower.
"The titanic construction project that has been ongoing in Orre for ages has finally reached completion! Today is the grand opening of Realgam Tower! At its base lies an extensive network of convenient passenger lifts, which will deliver you through a selection of private battlefields for personal one-on-one battles. For larger gatherings, the amiibo Courtyard is outfitted for the convenience of an entire city's worth of trainers! And of course, for those who want to battle before a crowd, the radiant Tower Colosseum stands atop the structure, with a most dedicated announcer and enough seats to host everyone who wants to watch! Come by today for the experience of a lifetime! West of Pheac, east of Pyrite, and south of Mt. Battle."
"A tower with a Colosseum on top?" Rui observed. "That must be that construction project we saw before. Those workers weren't kidding when they said all of Orre was gonna know."
Wes gasped as those words resonated with his memory.
"I don't think we should spoil the surprise, do you?"
"No, we shouldn't. When things get set off, all of Orre's gonna know!"
"That's it!" he exclaimed, turning away from the PC with a start. "That's what Lovrina and Naps was talking about!"
Rui's eyes widened. "Oh, no," she murmured, turning to Wes. "You mean Cipher... created Realgam Tower. What in the world do they have planned there?"
"A Colosseum atop a tower smack in the middle of Orre," Wes observed. "People from all over would go there to try the place out. If they have Shadow Pokémon, they can distribute them to everyone on their own authority!"
"And if they don't," Rui realized, "they own the place - and no one can stop them from taking people's Pokémon the old-fashioned way!"
Wes quickly seized his team off the PC, and he and Rui charged out of the Poké Mart as fast as their legs could take them.
+x+x+x+
Credit where it's due: Realgam Tower was gorgeous. The distant shot used on the newscast didn't quite do it justice - the tower itself arced out of the ground like a massive hourglass, gleaming in the desert sun, with the Colosseum held at its peak and surrounded by sub-platforms (whose purpose wasn't immediately clear). A maze of tunnels extended from its base, connecting several domes set into the ground; what had once been the construction lot that warned visitors away was now an entry courtyard of sorts, with a checker-patterned floor surrounding two crystal Sudowoodo statues that constantly rotated as though the Imitation Pokémon were dancing.
Rui was leaping out of the sidecar before Wes had even brought the bike to a halt. They'd chosen to leave the legendary Pokémon with Eagun, not wanting to risk some Cipher Peon dropping off a roof and swiping them off his belt, and so Wes had a tactical team lined up as he followed her in. Two men were standing before the entrance as they approached, dressed in formal black suits with dark, round-framed sunglasses.
"Welcome to Realgam Tower," one man greeted. "Today is our grand opening."
"We've been expecting you two," the other mused. "Please, do come in."
Wes narrowed his gaze as they stepped aside, sweeping their hands towards the entrance. Rui quickly moved to his Poké Ball side, looping her arm with his to make sure they didn't get any ideas about taking his team; then the two of them stepped in, the automatic door opening before them.
The next room was an intersection of sorts, with four doors in the cardinal directions; it certainly didn't seem big enough to be a battlefield, especially with the fancy silver chandelier hanging from above. "So," he mused, "what do we do first?"
Rui closed her eyes, her braids starting to waver as she observed with her aura. "Pretty long tunnels," she observed. "But there is someone... dancing to the left."
"Dancing?" Wes echoed. "Oh, don't tell me it's Miror."
"You want to go after him now?" Rui asked.
Wes sighed. "...You know what, let's get it over with. We've come a long way since Pyrite."
+x+x+x+
The 'pretty long tunnels' turned out to host lifts that made it much faster than it would have been; even considering the fact that there was barely enough room for Wes and Rui to share one, it was still much nicer than having to walk the whole length. At the far end was a larger dome that Wes assumed to be one of the private battlefields - it was much larger than the intersection, rather empty, with a broad circular pattern marked on the floor - and sure enough, Miror B. was in the middle of the room, his posture as the door opened implying he had indeed been mid-dance before he turned around.
Wes wasn't sure what he was dancing to; there was no music playing, nor any headphones on Miror's person.
"O-ho-ho! We meet again, darlings." The Administrator of Retrieval aimed an accusing finger at them. "You two ruined things for us in Pyrite. But we're not about to lose to you over and over. This time, I'll win, and get you out of our hair permanently!" He swept his hand skyward. "Let the music play!"
An awkward silence filled the dome for a moment.
"...Oh, never mind," he insisted, lowering his hand embarrassedly. "Let's just get to it, shall we?"
You are challenged by Cipher Admin Miror B!
Miror retreated to the far end of the dome, once again confounding Wes from the way his footwork said he should have been walking forward. Once there was ample space between them, he twisted around, brandishing a Poké Ball out at his side; then, as Wes reached for his own belt, Miror swept the hand down, now holding two Balls that he hurled forward. Two Ludicolo appeared before him, and Wes promptly sent out Espeon and Umbreon to counter.
"No holding back!"
With a laugh, Miror snapped his fingers, prompting one Ludicolo to twist. Storm clouds gathered across the roof of the dome in response to his Rain Dance as the other Ludicolo dashed forward, charging Umbreon from atop a rushing Waterfall that only connected when the rain had begun to fall. Umbreon took the initial blow and retaliated with a wicked Payback, hitting the Carefree Pokémon full-force; Espeon promptly followed through with a Psychic that threw the Ludicolo from the ground, knocking her out.
Miror promptly made to withdraw her as the remaining Ludicolo hit Espeon with a Giga Drain; he threw out another Poké Ball to take her place, and Rui double-took as she saw the Golduck that appeared from it. "Wait, where's the other two?"
"Didn't think we'd all be keeping the same team and tactics, did you?" Miror retorted. "Make some waves!"
Wes cursed under his breath as water began to swell on Miror's side of the field; Golduck cried out as she leapt up, Surfing upon the wave. Espeon and Umbreon braced themselves as the wave came crashing down on them... and Ludicolo; Umbreon promptly charged at the Carefree Pokémon for another Payback, and Espeon followed through with a second Psychic pulse that knocked him out as well. As Miror withdrew the unconscious Ludicolo, Wes withdrew his Eeveelutions; a Loudred was sent out to join Golduck, and Wes sent out Ampharos and Lucario in retaliation.
Rui drew out her pocket watch, touching the Key Stone to set off the Lucarionite as Ampharos loosed a Thunder in Golduck's direction. The raging storm ensured the bolt hit true, knocking out the Duck Pokémon; as Lucario's Mega Evolution finalized, he hurled an Aura Sphere at Loudred, sending him reeling in mid-Shadow Ball. The projectile slammed into Ampharos as Miror withdrew Golduck, sending out an Armaldo in his place.
Loudred was yet to be knocked out, and Lucario switched targets, dashing at Armaldo as Ampharos flung a Thunderbolt at the Big Voice Pokémon. Armaldo made to strike Lucario with an Aerial Ace on the approach; Lucario managed to endure, driving a sharp Metal Claw into him in retaliation. The battlefield was two-on-one, now, and the rain was starting to subside; Ampharos quickly hurled a Power Gem barrage at the Plate Pokémon, prompting Lucario to leap away as it connected for the knockout.
Miror B. grumbled, withdrawing his Pokémon. "This just won't do!" he snapped. "But I'll admit you've beaten me thoroughly."
Rui double-took. "Well, that's an improvement over your attitude last time," she observed as Wes withdrew Lucario and Ampharos as well.
A smirk rose on Miror's face, and he drew something out of his pocket - a green card of some kind. "Here. A little prize for the battle."
He flung it at Wes like a Water Shuriken; Wes managed to catch it with a swipe of his hand, looking over it. "Your Battle Pass?" he asked, confused. Miror was pictured on it, on what was the right side when it was oriented so his afro pointed upwards; and his Pokémon were arranged in a three-by-two array of circles below Administrator of Retrieval Miror B. All in all, it looked like a Battle Pass straight out of Pokétopia.
"Think of that as a little gift from General Nascour," Miror insisted. "Don't leave without it, because you'll get nowhere." Then, grinning; "But, you know, maybe it'd be for your own good if you didn't go on!"
He laughed, turning around and starting to walk away... no, he wasn't. Wes's attention turned to the Cipher Admin's feet, trying to figure out how in the world he was walking backwards when his footwork for all appearances looked to be pushing him forwards; he and Rui stepped aside as Miror made his way into the tunnel, and the lift took him back to the entrance as soon as he was standing on it.
"How does he do that?" Wes muttered.
+x+x+x+
When they got back to the entrance dome, they took the north tunnel; a PC was in the dome at the end of this one, along with a Cipher Peon who seemed to be dozing in a chair beside it and another tunnel leading west. Rui was most concerned when she picked up another aura directly to their east - after patching up Wes' team at the PC, they headed back to the entrance and took the east tunnel, finding another dome with a tunnel leading north.
They followed the path - and found Dakim waiting for them.
The Administrator of Enforcement gave a hearty laugh as they stepped out of the tunnel. "Your luck ran out when you showed up in front of me!" he reprimanded. "Your stab at adventure's gone on long enough!"
"I'm guess you want a rematch, too?" Wes accused.
"You'd better believe it, scrawny!"
You are challenged by Cipher Admin Dakim!
Dakim pounded his fists before him before reaching for his belt, sending out a Claydol and Foretress; Wes sent out Octillery and Altaria in return. His tactical preparations came in handy at this point; Octillery launched an Octazooka that slammed heavily into Claydol, and Altaria quickly breathed a stream of Flamethrower at Foretress. The Bagworm Pokémon didn't have a prayer; Claydol fared a little better, and promptly twisted around, an intense light filling the room in a Sunny Day.
Foretress was withdrawn, and Dakim sent out a Flygon to take his place. Octillery was taking aim with an Ice Beam when the opponents beat her to the punch; the sunlight filling the room supercharged both Claydol and Flygon, who unleashed twins Solar Beams that came down rapidly on the Jet Pokémon before she had the chance to attack.
Altaria acted quickly, hitting Claydol with a Dragon Pulse to finish it off before the bombardments could continue. Wes withdrew Octillery and sent out Lucario in her place; again did Rui set off his Mega Evolution as Dakim withdrew Claydol and sent out a Wiscash. Lucario and Altaria decided to deal with the faster opponent; the Aura Pokémon seemed to vanish as the light encasing him broke, striking Flygon with a bombardment of Extreme Speed, and as she unleashed another Solar Beam, Altaria took aim to finish her off with a Dragon Pulse.
Enduring the Solar Beam was a simple matter for a Steel-type; Altaria wasn't so lucky, as Wiscash sent an Ice Beam at her. She managed to last all the same, retaliating with another Dragon Pulse as Dakim withdrew Flygon; a Houndoom was sent out in her place, causing Lucario to give a growl that was intonated suspiciously like a curse. He quickly charged forward, striking the Dark Pokémon with a Bone Rush; Altaria didn't trust herself to finish off Wiscash, and released one more Dragon Pulse, this one aimed at Houndoom and finishing him off as Lucario leapt clear.
Wiscash's next Ice Beam ended up knocking out Altaria; Wes withdrew her, sending out Ampharos to take her place as Lucario turned to the Whiskers Pokémon. An Aura Sphere welled between his paws as Ampharos unleashed a Power Gem bombardment; Wiscash managed to endure the stones, but the aura was too much for her to take, leaving her knocked out as well.
Dakim grumbled, withdrawing her with a glare at Wes. "In all the time I've been battling," he admitted, "my only losses came at the hands of General Nascour, and you." He smirked. "You sure know how to make a fight worth having!"
"Is that why you didn't blame your underling when he lost at Agate?" Rui wondered as Wes withdrew his Pokémon.
The Admin snickered, drawing something out. "Here," he snapped, "take this. Your passport to terror and despair!"
A red card was in his hand, and promptly thrown forward, Wes managed to grab it at the end of its flight, finding it to be another Battle Pass. "Not that I needed a souvenir," he snarked.
"If you're thinking of turning back," Dakim reprimanded, "now's the time to do it! Go cryin' to your families!"
He stormed off through the tunnel; Wes watched him off before glancing at the Battle Pass. "What purpose are these supposed to serve?"
+x+x+x+
Detouring back to the PC found the Cipher Peon stirring as they passed; on seeing Wes and Rui through hazed eyelids, he quickly shot to his feet, giving them a quick fight that could have been a lot worse if he hadn't had a team full of Poison-types. After healing up, they continued further in; the tunnel west led to a dome that only hosted a tunnel north, and at the end of that was a three-way intersection with a pair of Cipher Peons manning the tunnels north and east. After clearing them out, Rui picked up another aura to the north.
Wes pumped a couple Potions into his Poké Balls while they were riding the lift, and was glad he did when he found Venus waiting for them on the end.
The Administrator of Distribution huffed angrily as they entered. "Oh, well if it is that lovely couple from the Under," she accused; Rui and Wes turned bright red. "What kept you so long? I'm rather tired of waiting." She glared angrily. "Now, say your good-byes! This time, I'm gonna be as serious as serious can be!"
You are challenged by Cipher Admin Venus!
She reached for the crest behind her head, drawing out a Poké Ball in her left hand and then her right; she threw them forward to send out a Bellossom and Dusclops, and Wes quickly sent out Espeon and Umbreon in return. The Moonlight Pokémon charged at Dusclops, tanking the Sludge Bomb that Bellossom flung his way without breaking pace; Espeon quickly loosed a Psybeam in return as Umbreon connected with a Feint Attack on the Beckon Pokémon.
Dusclops faded out after the blow, reappearing before Espeon and hitting her with a hard Shadow Punch from point-blank. The Sun Pokémon quickly righted herself, hitting him with a Psychic pulse that managed to knock him out as Bellossom focused Umbreon; a Giga Drain hit him in mid-charge, but no sooner had the light returned to the Flower Pokémon than Umbreon connected with an unpleasant Payback that knocked her out as well.
Venus withdrew her Pokémon with a growl, sending out a Raichu and Wigglytuff to take their places. Espeon and Umbreon traded glances and nodded; they quickly turned their attention on Raichu, who loosed a Thunderbolt in Espeon's direction. The Sun Pokémon managed to tank it, and retaliated with a Psychic pulse; Umbreon followed up with a Payback that hit hard, knocking him out a moment before Wigglytuff loosed a furious Hyper Voice.
The soundwave hit both Eeveelutions and took them out of the fight, prompting Wes to withdraw them as Venus did the same to Raichu. Lucario and Ampharos were sent out as Venus sent out a Milotic; Rui set off the Lucarionite, and Wigglytuff unleashed a Flamethrower in the direction of the Mega Evolution as Milotic invoked a Blizzard towards Wes' side of the field.
Ampharos tanked the Blizzard and retaliated with a ferocious Thunder; Lucario managed to endure the fires, and the ice seemed to pass him without harm, leaving him charge at Wigglytuff for a Metal Claw rush. The voltage took out Milotic; Wigglytuff had more in her, and sent another Flamethrower his way, taking him out as Ampharos loosed a Thunderbolt at the Balloon Pokémon.
Venus fumed as she withdrew her Pokémon. "Me, lose again!?" she snapped. "My pride won't stand for it!"
"Look on the bright side," Rui retorted. "Your crowd in the Under never saw their 'idol' get beaten."
The Admin scoffed, shaking her head. "Yes, that's it!" She drew out a blue card. "Here, take this thing away! For that, I want your silence that this battle never happened!"
She hurled it angrily at Wes, who managed to snatch it in mid-flight - another Battle Pass.
"I shall forget I ever battled with you," Venus proclaimed. "That's what I'll do! Leave me alone!"
Wes and Rui stepped aside as she charged out of the battlefield; Wes glanced at the Pass again before pocketing it. "Some Cipher," he mused, "being more concerned about her reputation than her objective."
"You think she might've just joined up because handing out Shadow Pokémon made her popular?" Rui wondered.
"Maybe."
+x+x+x+
The reason for the Battle Passes made more sense when they got back to the intersection; after backtracking to the PC to heal up, Wes and Rui went through the tunnel to the east, and found another intersection with a much more extravagant door barring the way north. It looked reinforced, with bars connecting to the locking mechanism in the center; four large Poké Balls were sitting on the wall in green, red, blue and yellow, and after a moment Wes realized they each had a slots where the Ball's button would be.
"Wait, are these...?" He drew out the Battle Passes they'd acquired so far. "They're... keycards?"
"I guess so," Rui observed. Then, pointing to the east door; "There's another aura that way, who do you reckon has the last one?"
They took the tunnel; sure enough, they found Ein waiting inside.
"So you've come." The Advisor of Technology regarded the two of them curiously. "Seems taking down the one responsible for the Shadow Pokémon project didn't satisfy you. Now you've come to the culmination of all of Cipher's efforts."
"Are you telling us that there's nothing here?" Wes accused.
"No," Ein admitted. "But I will tell you that you stand no chance against General Nascour." He smirked. "Assuming you should even reach him."
You are challenged by Cipher Admin Ein!
Two Poké Balls were thrown over his head, and he seized them in his left hand before bringing them back and hurling them forward. Wes reached for his belt as a Crobat and Pelliper appeared; with a smirk, he flung two Poké Balls of his own, sending out Ampharos and Espeon. The Sun Pokémon quickly loosed a Psychic pulse around Crobat, and Ampharos unleashed a Thunderbolt in Pelliper's direction; the Water Bird Pokémon was knocked out by the voltage, but Crobat had more in her, soaring towards Espeon with noxious orbs circling her flight path.
Wes cursed as the Toxic blow ripped up around Espeon; Ein quickly withdrew Pelliper, sending out a Rhydon to take her place, and Wes retaliated by withdrawing Ampharos, sending out Lucario. Rui touched her Key Stone the moment Lucario was out; Espeon quickly moved to finish off Crobat before the poison got too bad, a Psybeam striking the Bat Pokémon as Rhydon unleashed a Rock Slide upon her and Lucario as the Mega Evolution finalized. Ein withdrew Crobat and sent out a Starmie in her place; Lucario flung an Aura Sphere in Rhydon's direction as Wes withdraw Espeon and sent out Umbreon to replace her.
Starmie fired a Hydro Pump at Lucario that missed him by moments; Umbreon quickly charged forward, striking the Mysterious Pokémon with a Payback. Rhydon made to defend himself against the next blow, only for Lucario to instead blitz towards Starmie, finishing it off with an Extreme Speed bombardment. Ein quickly withdrew it as Umbreon waited for Rhydon's barrier to subside; once it had, he charged forward for a Feint Attack that hit full-on.
A Manectric appeared to take Starmie's place; Lucario elected to finish off Rhydon with another Aura Sphere first, leaving the battle two-on-one. Wes withdrew Umbreon and sent out Ampharos again; Manectric charged the Light Pokémon, only to find himself on the receiving end of a Dragon Pulse that was quickly followed up by a Bone Rush from Lucario.
Ein sighed, withdrawing his downed Pokémon. "You've gotten much stronger in such a short time," he observed.
"There's no such thing as hitting too hard against the likes who would endarken Pokémon," Rui retorted.
"Indeed," Ein sighed. "It's a shame that you oppose us. A brilliant trainer like you would make a fascinating subject." He drew out a yellow card. "Here, use this."
He flung it to Wes, who caught the Battle Pass with a swipe of his hand. "That makes four."
"You understand the significance of that, don't you?" Ein accused. "Go see what awaits beyond the door."
He marched out of the dome; Wes glanced down at the Battle Pass curiously. "Cipher is turning Pokémon into fighting machines," he murmured. "What would a trainer be a 'subject' for?"
Draco: Cipher Admins have a lot less consistent teams than the Admins of other villain organizations. It's not just the substituting for Shadow Pokémon, either. In fact, in Colosseum, the Shadow Pokémon slot is most consistent; they always keep their Shadow Pokémon if you don't Snag it, and there's a single replacement if you do.
So, amiibo functionality is not something they'd leave out if the opportunity was presentable. Yes, the original release of Colosseum had eReader compatibility, but the eReader was Mulch and I don't think a direct recreation would blow over well, so this isn't happening in Phenac. Once you get into Realgam Tower proper, you can access the amiibo Courtyard. There, scanning certain Pokémon-related amiibo would present you with a chance to battle a Trainer regarding that Pokémon.
Being as I'm envisioning this pseudo-remake as a Generation VI Wii U game, I looked at what Pokémon-related amiibo were released as of the announcement of Sun and Moon.
Super Smash Bros: Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Charizard, Lucario, Greninja, and Mewtwo all received figures corresponding to their playable appearances in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS. Scanning one of those would result in a fight against a "Smash Trainer", who has a three-Pokémon team containing the Pokémon scanned, with a moveset based off the Smash incarnation (i.e. Pikachu would know Quick Attack, Thunder, Skull Bash, and Volt Tackle). I'm thinking Red for Pikachu, Leaf for Jigglypuff, Blue for Charizard, Riley for Lucario, Shauna for Greninja, and Giovanni for Mewtwo.
Pokkén Tournament: a Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card came packaged with first-run copies of the game. (No, as of this writing, I don't have one.) The Orre fandom squeed when Pokkén tournament revealed a Mewtwo whose English and Japanese names both corresponded to the Shadow Pokémon created by Cipher. I think it would be reasonable to include a Snaggable amiibo-exclusive Shadow Mewtwo, as long as they had a re-run of the amiibo card as a normally-purchaseable thing. Maybe have the fight be Mega Mewtwo Y to contrast Pokkén's Mega Mewtwo X.
...I also like to imagine that they would release a new line of amiibo [cards] for unique battles against certain non-Orrean trainers, but that might just be wishful thinking.