Draco: I have concocted myself a semi-balanced team for every journey in every region. I have been showcasing Wes' team since the aftermath of Realgam Tower - Espeon, Umbreon, Ampharos, Octillery, Altaria, Hitmontop. Really, I've been showcasing it since the start of Realgam Tower, just with Lucario subbed in for Hitmontop so Wes has a Mega without an implied Mt. Battle grind. I'm not ashamed to admit that when I was deciding Shadow Pokémon that would be altered for the pseudo-remake, I made sure those four were still there.
...I made this big show of "larger pool of Pokémon, no need to comp for communication, let's change the selections", but I really don't have what it takes to rework that many teams. I knew writing this thing was going to make me come across like a fricker, but it's still a pretty big pill to swallow. Pretty much the only Shadow change that I feel was really justified was the inclusion of Ho-Oh, because the original acquisition was through Battle Mode and that wouldn't really work. Plus I love the #WhamLine I came up with for that.
So, the previous chapter's Mega Lucario vs. Mega Gardevoir showing would be like the battle with Korrina for the acquisition of the Mega Ring in XY. Fixed one-Pokémon parties on both sides, you set off the Mega Evolution and she sets off hers; the outcome of the battle doesn't matter, no one receives EXP, and there's no prize money on the line. Afterwards, you're given control while Lovrina is BSODing, and Eagun's botched message comes in to give them a #EurekaMoment. I feel like I'd have the player walk up to the containment tube to collect the Manaphy Egg, but it felt better for my writing to have Naps do it while they were thinking about what to do. Once you've got her in the case, you're quick-transported to Agate for the start of this chapter.
Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo and the Pokémon Company.
Chapter 24: Advance on Citadark Isle
"So this is the Egg that Cipher found..."
Eagun regarded the case sitting on the center of the living room table, his hands folded before his face as he leaned forward. Beluh and Pikachu were sitting at his sides, and Wes and Rui were standing across from them. "It would be a terrible thing indeed for a newly-hatched Pokémon to be made into a Shadow Pokémon," he concurred. "And this Pokémon most of all."
Wes blinked. "I'm sorry," he asked, "I must be missing something. What is this Egg?"
"This is the Egg of Manaphy," Beluh replied, "the Princess of the Sea. A legendary Pokémon - but innocent, like a child. Or so they say. If she hatches from an Egg, the stories must be true. It's truly fortunate that you were able to save it."
"I was terrified when I saw this Egg and realized Cipher was going to endarken it," Rui admitted. "I'm just glad we were able to save it and bring it here."
Eagun sat upright. "What do you intend to do with this?" he asked.
"Nothing," Wes insisted. "Yet. We still have Cipher - what's left of Cipher - to deal with. We were hoping you could keep this Egg safe while we did."
"Of course," Eagun assured him. "Pikachu and I will protect it gladly, won't we?" Pikachu gave an agreeing cry.
Wes nodded with a smile. "I'm glad to hear that," he expressed. "We'll be sticking around for a while, but we'll need to leave for Gateon in the morning."
He and Rui stepped out into Agate; once they were outside, Rui turned to face him. "So... can I ask?"
"Ask what?" Wes mused.
"XD001," Rui replied. "Lugia's been turned into a terrible Shadow Pokémon - its heart is lost. What are we going to do about that?"
Wes sighed. "We're going to Snag it," he insisted. "And then we're going to bring it here."
Rui blinked. "Here?"
"We still have one Time Flute left," Wes reminded her. "If there's any way to unmake an XD Shadow Pokémon, it's with Celebi's help."
+x+x+x+
The next morning, they rode to Gateon Port. A rather comfortable-looking ship was docked there; Lovrina and Naps were standing beside it, prompting Wes and Rui to step up to them. "What's this?" Rui asked.
"This is Nascour's private cruiser," Lovrina replied. "It can cut through the currents that are generated to divert unwanted sailors."
"And how did you get Nacour's private cruiser?" Wes inquired.
"I filched the keys when he came to check on the XD Project," Naps proclaimed.
"What."
Naps chuckled briefly. "All aboard for Citadark Isle," he invited. "Whenever you're ready."
He hopped onto the boat, making his way to the captain's seat; Lovrina stepped up to them. "Um... I just wanted to... say thanks," she insisted. "For saving me. After everything I did."
"Can I ask why you were working with Cipher?" Rui asked. "The other Admins told us about how they were baited into it. Dakim wanted a good fight, Venus was made famous for handing out Pokémon, and Ein wanted to develop technologies." Lovrina turned away as Rui continued; "But... you said you were kept on the team because you were still working on the endarkenment process. Why would you pour so much into it?"
"...on Nascour."
Lovrina's quiet muttering had Rui blinking. "I'm sorry?"
"Because I had a crush on Nascour, okay?!" Lovrina confessed - and Wes and Rui both pulled back at that. "I saw him in a Colosseum battle challenge, showing off with his Mega-Evolving Blaziken and his fancy Poké Ball throws and his awesome hair, and I was lovestruck like a stupid fangirl. He invited me and Naps into Cipher, and when I realized what Ein's synthetic darkness could do, Nascour made me Admin so that there was someone on the job all the time, no matter what Ein needed to work on."
She shook her head. "I was so obsessed with trying to earn his attention that I never realized what I was doing to the Pokémon. When he rewarded me after Realgam, I thought I had it, and I just wanted to make him happy." One hand came up to her necklace. "But Ein was always getting on my case about protective eyewear during the endarkenment process - he must have known there was a chance it could hurt people as well as Pokémon. And when Nascour walked in on me working on the XD Project, I didn't have my goggles on."
Her hand curled around the Key Stone. "And he didn't care."
With a deep breath, she reached into her pocket, drawing something out - it was a Battle Pass like they had claimed from the Cipher Admins in Realgam Tower, although this one had a crystalline sheen to it. "There's two cruisers that can get to Citadark - his, and the Grand Master's. Nascour might've realized his keys were missing and hitched a ride." She handed the Battle Pass to Wes. "If you see him on Citadark, give him a beatdown for me."
Rui nodded. "Will do."
She and Wes climbed onto the boat, and Naps sat himself down in the captain's seat. "This is Luxo Cruiser #2, departing for Citadark," he proclaimed, his voice taking on a formal tone like some flight announcer. "Please fasten your safety belts and keep your Pokémon inside their Poké Balls at all times."
+x+x+x+
If Rui still had any doubts about the Gateon sailors' refusal to take her to Citadark Isle, they had vanished by the time they reached the dock. Dark clouds surrounded the island, blotting out the sun such that Wes was convinced a Dusk Ball would work here at peak efficiency - and that made navigation by eyesight difficult at best. The waters around the volcanic island were indeed turbulent, and even in the Luxo Cruiser, it was a bumpy ride; Rui was half expecting them to go under and wash up in Pokétopia before they were near enough to make out the magma flows down the side of the mountain.
"Here we are," Naps proclaimed, bringing the cruiser around to moor.
As Wes and Rui stepped onto the dock, they found another similar boat at the other one. "Let me guess," Wes mused, "that'd be Luxo Cruiser #1?"
Naps nodded. "You got it. Looks like the Grand Master is still in the house. Be careful - the Peons stationed around here are as tough as they get."
"Duly noted," Wes assured him.
There was a cave and an elevator nearby; unsurprisingly, the elevator was not working. Wes and Rui thus started into cave... which quickly gave way to steel walls and floors. Cipher had an entire base in this thing, and a rather labyrinthine one at that; a PC was sitting near the entrance, and Wes elected to backtrack to it after each Peon fight for as long as it took them some effort to find the nearest elevator.
When they did, they found someone coming up through it - a man in a fancy longcoat. As he stepped out, he caught sight of who was waiting for him and almost stumbled back into the elevator. "What?! You two!"
"I know you," Rui accused. "You're Venus' PR guy."
"I'm her Advisor!" Snattle retorted. "And more to the point, I was her Advisor. Lady Venus" - and he said the title with a thick layer of sarcasm - "is no longer employed by Cipher. I am here because the Grand Master wishes to take assessment of my skills, and see whether I am worthy of replacing her as Administrator!" He seized two Poké Balls off his belt and raised it over his head. "You provide me an excellent opportunity to prove myself, and drive you out!"
You are challenged by Cipher Promote Snattle!
Wes leapt back as Snattle sent his Pokémon out, a Castform and Aurorus appearing. As Wes sent out Hitmontop and Ampharos in return, icy clouds began to gather along the roof, from which hail began to fall; Castform gave a cheer as the weather transformed him, draping him in a cold fog.
Right, weather specialist.
Hitmontop whirled forward, charging at Aurorus as Ampharos hurled a bombardment of Power Gems at Castform. The Weather Pokémon managed to endure the blow, returning fire with a frosty Weather Ball as Aurorus hit the approaching Hitmontop with an Aurora Beam; he managed to power through, closing in and striking the Tundra Pokémon with a harsh Triple Kick.
Aurorus gave a loud cry as the third blow connected, knocked out by the super-effective blow; Snattle quickly withdrew her, sending out a Ninetales to take her place. The hail clouds parted, and a harsh light took their place; Castform flung a fiery Weather Ball in Hitmontop's direction as the Fox Pokémon loosed a Flamethrower in Ampharos' direction. The two switched targets, Hitmontop spinning towards Castform as Ampharos unleashed another barrage of Power Gems to slamming into Ninetales.
Castform was knocked out by the blow, and Snattle promptly withdrew him and sent out a Politoed in his place. To Wes' amusement, the light faded out, and darker clouds took its place; rain began to fall upon them as Ninetales glanced back at her trainer disapprovingly. She quickly turned her attention back to the battle as Wes withdrew Hitmontop, sending out Octillery to take advantage of the storm; Ampharos invoked a fierce blast of Thunder to come down on Politoed, and Octillery quickly unleashed a rain-boosted Octazooka to take out Ninetales.
Snattle was down to one Pokémon; the Golduck that appeared could have taken advantage of the storm... if it weren't for Ampharos and Octillery crushing him with a Bullet Seed/Thunderbolt combo, knocking him out swift and sure.
The would-be Admin gave a yell of frustration as he withdrew his Pokémon. "Curse you both!" he shouted. "Grand Master, forgive me!"
He charged past them, fleeing outside as Wes withdrew his Pokémon. "Well," he mused, "this won't be fun."
"Why do you say that?" Rui inquired.
"Do you think they only invited one Advisor to try and replace their Admins?"
"Right..."
+x+x+x+
The interior of the Citadark base ran the gauntlet in terms of terrain; the elevator took them down to a massive whirlpool generator that they assumed to be responsible for the currents that made getting to the shore so difficult. On the other end was an elevator that took them up to an extensive, magma-filled cave; Wes and Rui made their way through hand-in-hand, fearful that any misstep could send them into the fire and hoping the other would be able to help them stay their ground if they couldn't alone.
There was a new respect for the Cipher Peons, who had the patience to hide in this cavern and drop off stalactites in their armouresque outfits.
Another PC was sitting in a cooler room near the elevator on the far side; Wes patched up his team before he and Rui took the lift up... to another magma cavern. The elevator on the far end of that took them to a series of cliff faces... where they found the other Advisor waiting for the lift.
Gorigan yelped. "You!" he snapped. "You're the ones from the Lab!"
"And you're the tech guy that was serving under Ein," Rui observed.
"Was being the operative term, indeed!" Gorigan confirmed. "After you two crushed him in the Lab and at Realgam, they threw him out! Thankfully, the Grand Master didn't just re-delegate me to Lovrina's service, and instead brought me here to show I could replace him as Admin!" He pounded at his chest. "Time for me to prove I deserve the faith!"
You are challenged by Cipher Promote Gorigan!
Wes went for his belt as Gorigan threw out two Poké Balls; an Aggron and Primeape appeared there, and Wes promptly sent out Hitmontop and Altaria to meet them. Hitmontop went straight for Aggron as Primeape was targeted with a Dragon Pulse; the Pig Monkey Pokémon took the blow and moved to intercept Hitmontop, slamming a Karate Chop into the Handstand Pokémon that had him veering off-course as Aggron brought a Rock Tomb down on Altaria.
Hitmontop managed to correct his course, striking Aggron with a Triple Kick from behind, the harsh super-effective blow knocking him out. Altaria managed to endure the stones as Gorigan withdrew Aggron, sending out a Hypno to take his place. Wes swiftly withdrew Hitmontop, with Ampharos much less likely to suffer from Hypno's blows; the Light Pokémon quickly hit Primeape with a Thunderbolt as Altaria unleashed another Dragon Pulse in Hypno's direction.
Primeape was knocked out; Hypno had more to him, and unleashed a Psyshock at Altaria as Gorigan sent out a Poliwrath. Wes elected to withdraw Altaria, sending out Octillery in her place; the Jet Pokémon promptly hit Hypno with an Octazooka as Ampharos' second Thunderbolt slammed into Poliwrath, not knocking him out but leaving him paralyzed.
Hypno was knocked out; Gorigan withdrew him, sent out a Tyrantrum in his place... and quickly found the Despot Pokémon being knocked out by a critical-hitting Ice Beam from Octillery. Poliwrath soon followed, Ampharos finishing him off with a second Thunderbolt before he could fight off the paralysis enough to act.
Gorigan growled angrily, withdrawing his Pokémon. "Oh, tough guy," he mocked, "so good at taking me down. Don't think that attitude's gonna last you much longer!"
He stormed into the elevator they'd come out of, leaving Wes scoffing as he rode it down. "Was anyone on that team on his last one?" he mused.
"He had a Lairon," Rui recalled.
"Still, doesn't mean I've adapted to his tactics specifically."
"Yeah, that's true."
+x+x+x+
The build of the cliffs required Wes and Rui to circle around just to reach an elevator that was a Poké Ball's throw away from the one they'd come out of... if Wes was right up on one edge and was content with the Ball bouncing off the corner of the other edge. It deposited him and Rui on what looked like scaffolding, with several narrow walkways connecting platforms beneath a series of skylights. The next elevator deposited them above those skylights... where a false step nearly had Rui falling back down after discovering those skylights withdrew upon contact.
One more lift deposited them on the rim of the volcano. Wes took a glance over the edge and nearly regretted it from the vertigo - but it was clear that this led straight down to the docks, and there was an elevator opposite where they'd come up that looked like it led to the shaft they had been forced to pass up from below. A walkway from nearby extended over the volcano; there was a great sphere that rested upon the opposite side of the rim, which seemed large enough to host a Colosseum the size of Realgam's.
Out of sheer paranoia, they elected to call the elevator and ride it down to make sure the Colosseum wasn't a decoy. Sure enough, it did deposit them at the entrance; they elected to stop at the PC while they were down there, where they healed their teams before riding back up.
"Looks like this is it," Rui mused as they approached the walkway. "You ready?"
"...Absolutely not," Wes admitted.
With that confession, the two of them started forward.
Draco: Yes, if you want to purify Shadow Lugia, you need a Time Flute; nothing else will even have an effect. No, you are not fricked if you used two Time Flutes before Realgam. No, I'm not going to make you climb Mt. Battle for the third one.
And yes, the amiibo-exclusive Shadow Mewtwo would be the same.
Gave Snattle a weather-based team this time, since he doesn't have his Cryogonal to make a theme with. And Golduck as an odd one out. This is the first time where my "every Pokémon in Orre has its Hidden Ability" clause is really relevant.