As the morning sun rose over Phenac City, Wes and Rui both slept peacefully until the sun shined brightly into the sleeping eyes of Wes. With a tired groan, he opened his eyes and sat up on the couch. He rubbed his tired eyes for a moment, and let out a yawn. Looking down, the young trainer noticed the blanket on him and he looked up at the bed across the room, easily guessing who put it on him.
Rui soon sat up in the bed with a soft smile on her face as she did a long stretch before opening her eyes. She then looked at Wes and smiled at him. However he did not return the smile. Instead he got up, went over to the closet and tossed the blanket inside it. Rui giggled at him, as he did his best not to look at her.
"Well, someones grumpy this morning." She said with another giggle.
"I'm not a morning person." Wes said flatly before going into the bathroom.
"I can see that." Rui said with a smile on her face as Umbreon who was sleeping on her lap began to wake.
Wes splashed some water on his face to wake himself up as Rui got out of the bed. She went over to the window and and looked out to the horizon beyond the peaceful city.
Wes exited the bathroom and saw Rui staring out the window.
"What are you doing?" He asked as he leaned against the bathroom doorway.
"I'm watching the sunrise." Rui responded "Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved going outside and watching the sunrise. Every time I see the sun coming up, I can't help but feel happy, because, I know it's another brand new, beautiful day."
Wes simply stared at Rui as she watched the sunrise.
"She's always as cheerful as can be." He thought to himself.
The young boy continued to look at Rui as began to think about both her and himself. Rui was everything that he wasn't. He was calm and collected, she was cheerful and energetic, he wasn't a morning person, she welcomed the morning like it was a long lost friend. He had never met anyone so happy and out going like Rui. The only people he ever knew that were happy was Team Snagem, but their happiness came from greed, something that he never truly liked. Rui's happiness was different it came from welcoming the day with open arms. She lives and loves every minute of her life like they were her last.
Thinking about all this Wes smiled to himself as Rui continued to stare out into the beautiful horizon.
"You know, I kind of like having her around." he thought to himself.
The sun soon completely rose into the sky and Rui left the window to enter the bathroom. She stared into the Mirror and washed her own face. She then released the pigtails from her fiery red hair and let it drop down to just past her shoulders. She ran her hands through it before tying the two pigtails back into her hair. When she left bathroom she saw Wes sitting down on the bed, she went over to him and sat down beside him as Umbreon crawled into his masters lap and laid before looking up at him.
"So, that Makuhita I caught last night, that was the Pokemon with black aura that you were talking about?" Wes asked as he looked at her.
Rui's smile faded away before she nodded her head in response.
"How did you know?" He asked.
Rui remained quiet and Wes could see hesitation in her eyes. After a moment of tense silence, she let out a sigh before finally speaking to Wes.
"Remember what Miror B. said, about me seeing things other people can't see?" She asked him as he nodded his head in response. "Well, that's what he was talking about, I saw the black aura around Makuhita. I'm the only person that can see something like that. I don't know why I have this ability, I just do."
Wes then saw something in Rui's eyes, something he hasn't seen from her before. He could see sadness in her eye's.
"Wes," Rui began "I didn't want to say anything last night but after we captured Makuhita, I got a very bad feeling that there are more Pokemon like that out there because I keep seeing them in my nightmares."
"I felt the same way, I didn't know why, I just did. I also get the feeling we haven't seen the last of that clown from last night." Wes responded.
Rui began to get nervous when she heard him growling very quietly as well clenching his fist.
"I wasn't joking about what I said to him last night." he said to her in a very low and angry tone of voice. "I hope I see him again, because if I do, I'm going to make him pay for doing what he did to Espeon."
Rui said nothing in response and looked at him worryingly, he's truly determined to get his revenge on Miror B.
"Please don't do anything reckless, Wes." She said to herself in thought.
The two said nothing to each other as Umbreon licked Wes's paw comfortingly and Wes rubbed the black Pokemon's head in response.
Suddenly, the trio was startled by a knock on the door.
"Wes, It's the nurse from the Pokemon Center." A voice said from beyond the door. "We're about to open up for the day, so you can come and get Espeon now."
Wes said nothing in response as he got to his feet with Umbreon jumping off him as he was standing up. He began to head for the door as Umbreon followed close behind. Rui got to her feet and quickly followed him out the door. The two of them thanked the hotel manager for letting them stay the night before walking into the bright sunlight to make their way to the Pokemon Center.
As the trio walked to the Pokemon center, Wes took out the Pokeball the contained the Makuhita out of his pocket. He stared at the Pokeball as Rui looked down at is as well.
"What do you think we should do with, Makuhita?" He asked as he continued to stare at the Pokeball.
Rui shook her head.
"I don't know, but I don't think we should take it out of it's pokeball right now. I'm worried it would attack us again or somebody else."
Wes nodded his head in agreement.
"Still," Rui continued. "We can't keep it locked up in it's pokeball forever. I wish there was something we could do to help the poor thing."
Before Wes could reply, the two had arrived at the doors to the Pokemon Center. They went inside and were immediately greeted with the sight of Espeon sitting on the counter,
"Esp, Espeon!" The Pokemon chirped happily as she jumped off of the counter and landed in Wes' arms.
Wes chuckled as he held his Pokemon in his arms. Rui smiled sweetly at the sight.
"It looks like someones feeling better." He said to Espeon as the Pokemon nuzzled the palm of his hand he was trying to pet her with.
The nurse saw the sight and giggled as she walked over to the group.
"The poor dear was up early, she was no doubt wondering where you were." The nurse said with a happy smile on her face.
Wes continued to pet Espeon as Umbreon came over. He set her down and her mate began to nuzzle her affectionately. Wes looked at the nurse with a small smile on his face.
"Thank you for helping her." He said to her gratefully.
"It's no problem at all, my dear," The nurse responded sweetly. "I love helping Pokemon and seeing both them and they're trainer happy."
Suddenly a thought entered Wes' head. He then took out Makuhita's pokeball from his coat pocket and looked at the nurse.
"Could you heal this Pokemon as well, it's in pretty rough shape." Wes asked as he held out the Pokeball for the nurse to take.
"Of course I can," The nurse replied kindly. "One moment please."
The nurse took the Pokeball from Wes's hand and went over to the machine behind her. Rui began to become very worried as she watched the nurse head over to the counter.
"Wes, what are you doing?" Rui asked in a whisper so the nurse couldn't hear.
"I'm having the nurse heal, Makuhita." Wes responded with a whisper of his own. "Maybe it'll return to normal if we heal it."
Rui thought about Wes's plan but she didn't like the way it sounded. She didn't think the Makuhita could be healed that way. However, she didn't want to tell Wes this because she could see in Wes's eyes that he was hoping that this plan would work and she's didn't want to take that hope away from him. She felt that hope was something he never really had in his life. Besides, maybe she was wrong and this was the way to heal it. It was worth a shot.
The nurse placed the pokeball in the healing machine and pressed a few buttons on the side causing the machine to come to life and creating a dark green glow around the pokeball. Wes and Rui watched the pokeball intently hoping that this would work. However the machine suddenly began to stutter and spur something was wrong. Everyone in the room gasped as Wes and Rui ran over to the machine leaving Espeon and Umbreon behind. The nurse quickly shut off the machine and took the pokeball out of it. She then attached it to another machine and looked at the screen above the machine. After a moment, she sighed in relief when she saw that the Makuhita was just fine. She then looked at Wes and handed him the pokeball.
"Well your Pokemon is unharmed and fully healed." She said with relief. "However I've never seen the healing machine act like that before. I'll have to see what's wrong."
Wes looked down at the pokeball with disappointment.
"It didn't work." He said quietly to himself. "What's happened to you?"
He then looked back at the nurse and gave her the most sincere smile he could muster. "Thank you." He said to her before turning around. "Come on, let's go." He said to his group before walking past them while putting the pokeball back in his pocket.
Rui looked down in disappointment as she followed Wes out the door with Espeon and Umbreon following her.
Outside the Pokemon center, Rui found Wes sitting on the steps looking at Makuhita's pokeball. He looked like he was deep in thought. She went over to him and sat down beside him. Umbreon sat on the other side of Wes as Espeon got closer to the Pokeball and sniffed it. Wes, Rui, and Umbreon looked at the psychic Pokemon as she suddenly pulled her head away like she smelled something disgusting.
"Espeon what is it?" Rui asked her.
"Espeon, Esp, Esp!" The Pokemon shouted in response while pointing a paw at the Pokeball.
Wes let out sigh and looked at Espeon for a moment. He then turned his gaze to Rui.
"She's saying she doesn't like the Makuhita and she wants me to get rid of it." He said to her before looking back at his Pokemon. "Espeon I know your upset about me having this Pokemon but we have to help it."
"Esp, Espeon!" Espeon shouted in retaliation while shaking her head violently in defiance. She then suddenly swatted the pokeball out of her masters hand.
"Hey, what do you think your doing!?" Wes snapped angrily as he got up and went over to the still rolling pokeball.
He picked up and turned around to scold Espeon. However when he looked towards her direction he noticed that Espeon was was hiding behind Rui as both the girl and Umbreon looked at her and then at Wes with upset looks on their faces. He went over to the trio and glared at Espeon who was scowling angrily at her master.
"Espeon, come here!" Wes ordered sternly
Espeon shook her head in defiance as Wes began to get irritated with her new found attitude.
"Come here, now!" He snapped angrily only for the Pokemon to violently shake her head once more before turning away from her master.
Letting out a long angry sigh, He shook his head and gave up. He then sat down as Umbreon laid his head on Wes's leg.
"Bre, Umbreon." The Pokemon said sadly.
Wes sighed again and stroked Umbreon's head while saying to him, "She'll calm down soon, Umbreon."
Wes then looked back at the Pokeball in his hand with frustration is his eyes.
"What are we going to do?" He asked angrily as he looked down at the ground.
Rui looked at him sadly before responding, "I don't know, but there's gotta be someone who can help us."
Suddenly Wes looked up as a thought entered his mind.
"Maybe there is." He said quietly
Everyone, even Espeon, looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Rui asked curiously.
"Madame Fateen." Wes responded.
"Who?" Rui asked, becoming even more confused
"Madame Fateen! She's a fortune teller who lives in Pyrite Town. She knows a lot about strange things happening to both humans and Pokemon. She just might be the one that's able to tell us how to help, Makuhita." Wes explained.
A smile of hope began to form on their faces.
"That's a good idea Wes!," Rui replied happily "I was actually in Pyrite Town, going to see a fortune teller that what said to live there and see why I was seeing a black aura around that Makuhita, but those two goons captured me before I could see her."
a smirk of confidence formed on Wes' face as he stood up.
"It sounds like we've got a plan, let's head to Pyrite Town." He said to Rui and his Pokemon.
The girl and the Pokemon nodded their heads and got to their feet. The group then went straight for the town gate.
Once the group was outside the town, they went over to the oasis where Wes was keeping his motorcycle. As Wes got on the bike he suddenly realized something, where was Rui going to sit? Espeon and Umbreon always rode in the side car. Wes looked at the trio beside and Was surprised to see Espeon and Umbreon both looking at Rui. They would normally jump into the side car without a second thought, but right now they were acting like they were waiting for Rui to get in. After a moment, she stepped inside the car and the two Pokemon jumped right in after her and they both curled up on her lap. Rui smiled down happily at the two Pokemon as Wes looked on in disbelief.
"They totally trust her." He said to himself as he looked at trio beside him.
Getting his mind back on the Mission, He kicked the start peddle and the bike roared to life. Lowering his goggles Wes put a heavy foot on the gas and in less than two seconds the Motorcycle shot like a bullet out of the Oasis. Wes kept his eyes focused on the road ahead of as Rui looked back to see Phenac City disappearing into the horizon.
The drive from Phenac City to Pyrite town seemed like a long one, but it didn't really bother Rui. She enjoyed feeling the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She was worried about the sand getting in her eyes but in the end no sand was blowing on her. She stared into the open desert hoping that Madame Fateen could help her and Wes. She then looked upward to the young trainer and smiled when saw a smile on his face. Wes himself enjoyed riding through the desert It was the only time he felt safe, relaxed, and free. He didn't worry about Team Snagem, he didn't worry about his new enemies. The only thing he cared about was the freedom he felt as he ventured into the canyons ahead of him.
In the distance, a slum like town appeared in underneath the hot sun. This town was the town of scum and villainy. This was the criminals playground know as Pyrite Town.
Wes stopped his motorcycle somewhere on the backside of the town where it couldn't be seen. The last thing he needed was to have his only means of transportation stolen by one the town's many criminals. Hopped of the bike while Rui, Espeon, and Umbreon, jumped out of the side car. The group then headed for the town's entrance.
Entering the town a horrible smell traveled through the air. The town itself had several ran down, barely standing buildings that surrounded the small shops and stands throughout the streets. Kids ran around the streets of shady merchants while people could be heard in the back allies, arguing and challenging each other to fist fights or Pokemon battles. To any tourist this would all be total chaos but the people of Pyrite Town, it was just another normal day.
As Wes and Company walked into the town Wes turned around and faced Rui before speaking to her.
"When I was part of Team Snagem this town was a regular place for business. I know this town inside and out. I also know what kind of people live here, so stay close to me."
Rui nodded her head in response as Wes turned around and began to walk with Espeon and Umbreon right beside him. Rui looked around at all the dilapidated buildings and all the shady shady shops. Stopping in front of one of the shops, She noticed something on a stand and being the somewhat curious girl she was, she reached an arm to touch but it was Suddenly jerked away by Wes who stared at her with a scowl.
"Don't touch, anything." He ordered.
Wes turned around and continued walking while Rui frowned at him behind his back.
"Hmph!" she uttered while crossing her arms. She then stuck her tongue out at him before catching up to him.
The group continued through the streets quietly as Wes kept his eyes constantly moving to make sure he and everyone else was safe. Rui looked at her surroundings while trying to keep up with Wes however she had only been to pyrite town once in her life and that was when she was kidnapped. Therefore she was very interested in the numerous things that street vendors were selling. She tried her hardest to listen to Wes' advice about staying close however her curiosity of the things around got the best and she strayed to far from Wes' side. When she finally did notice that Wes was no longer with her she tried to call out for him until she felt something tap on her shoulder.
"Hey you." A voice that made Rui uncomfortable said.
Rui then suddenly felt an arm around her shoulders and her body pushed against someone with a horrible smell. She then felt someones clammy skin around her neck, and what felt like very greasy hair touching her cheek. Looking over she saw a skinny looking man with bad teeth smiling at her.
"I'm talking to you, sweetheart." He said.
Rui felt sick to her stomach as the man's horrid breath and everything else about him made her want to throw up. She could then here a wheezy chuckle coming from him as he continued to smile at her. Rui felt completely helpless right now as the man both utterly terrified and disgusted her. The man then pulled out something from his vest pocket and showed it to her. In his was a stuffed Poliwag doll.
"Wanna by a Pokedoll?" He asked her as his horrid teeth smiled at her.
"Uh-I-I-" Rui stuttered in a scared tone of voice.
"Oh come on, a cute little girl like you should have one of these adorable little dolls." The man said in a low wheezy tone. "They'll make you look even cuter."
"P-please, l-let me-" Rui began until she felt the man's slimy hand cover her mouth.
"I insist that you buy one," He said "Think about how adorable you would look. Perhaps another type of Pokedoll would suit you?"
The man then began to walk while pushing Rui along with him who was trying to resist.
"I have an idea," The man began. "Why don't we head back to my shop and I'll show you all my other Pokedoll's that I have for sale for pretty girls like you."
Rui tried to get away but the man's grip on her was too strong.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you." He said to her "I just wanna take you to my shop so I can sell you a Poke-"
"Let her go grease ball!"
The man turned around with Rui firmly in his grip and saw Wes who was giving a calm yet angry glare. They saw Umbreon baring his sharp teeth and growling at the man while Espeon's eyes glowed meaning she was ready to attack as well.
"Back off pal this one's mine." The man said.
"Actually she's with me now let her go." Wes replied as he walked towards the man.
The man smirked as he held Rui closer to him she looked like she was going to be sick at the scent of the man's horrible body odor. He then pulled a knife he had hidden in his boot and held it at her throat making her eyes widen in fear.
"Don't move any closer or else I'll do something you don't want me to do." He said.
Wes froze in his tracks when he was almost nose to nose with the man.
"Put the knife down" Wes said calmly yet forcefully.
The man smirked and pointed the knife at Wes' throat.
"Or else what?"
Suddenly the man did something that made Rui gasp. Instead of using his knife, he committed one of the ultimate acts of disrespect and spit in the face of Wes. Rui looked on wide eyed at Wes whose eyes were closed. He looked very calm and stoic on the outside but on the inside his blood was boiling. Very slowly and calmly the sandy haired trainer wiped the spit off of his face.
"Big mistake..." Wes said softly and calmly.
With incredible speed Wes Grabbed the wrist of the hand the man had the knife in and twisted it making the man scream out in pain and his knife fall to the ground. With his free hand he punched the man making him release his grip on Rui and drop to the ground like an anchor. Rui took the opportunity to get behind Wes. The man quickly got back to his feet and tried to punch Wes only for him to duck the blow. The man stumble forward a bit and Wes struck him in the back of the head making him fall back down. The man quickly got back to his feet and tried to strike Wes again only for him to duck and go behind him once more. This time Wes grabbed the man by the back of his scarf and shirt collar. He looked around and saw an empty stall (no doubt the man's) and he threw him into it making him crash into his wares and tumble over the table. Wes saw the knife on the ground and picked it up. He then walked over to the stall he threw the man into. The man slumped his upper body onto the table as he tried to get back to his feet. Wes however grabbed his scarf and jerked the man forward. He then laid a section of the scarf onto the table and drove the knife into it pinning the man to the table. He then grabbed him by his greasy hair making him look him in the eyes.
"The next time you touch her or threaten me. I'll take this knife and shove it down your throat do you understand me?" Wes hissed with venom in his voice as he pulled on the scarf making it tighter around the mans neck.
"Y-Yes!" The man wheezed trying to loosen the scarf.
Wes gave him one last warning glare before releasing the scarf but leaving the knife pinned into the table.
The man struggled or a moment before pulling the knife out of the table and looking at Wes. He then ran off in fear when he saw the look on Wes' face that said he wasn't kidding about his threat.
With the man gone Wes turned around and looked at Rui who stared at him.
"Now do you know why I wanted you to stay close to me?" He asked.
Rui nodded her and smiled.
"Thanks Wes." She said, thankful that the man was gone. "I didn't know you could fight like that."
"I learned how to fight when I first started out in Team Snagem. I also learned at an early age that we live in a cruel world so you need to be tough if you wanna survive.
"What happened to make you think that?" Rui asked.
"None of your business!" Wes snapped angrily making Rui step back a little bit.
Wes sighed.
"Sorry, Let's just get over to Madame Fateen's place, it's not far from here, and don't leave my side again." He said.
Everyone nodded their heads and followed him, with Rui this time walking beside him while keeping a hand gripped on the back of his trench coat.
As the group reached a small corner of the town. Wes stopped everyone in their tracks and pointed at a nearby house that had a beaded curtain.
"There's Madame Fateen's house. Let's hope she can help us."
Walking over to the house, Wes pushed the beads out of the way and went inside followed by Rui, Espeon, and Umbreon.
The scent of the house was much more pleasant than the rest of Pyrite Town. Everyone looked around the house. All around them were both spiritual pictures and Pictures of legendary powerful Pokemon. In the center of the room stood a table as Well as three comfortable chairs, one on one side of the table and two on the other. At the center of the table was a lighted scent stick as well as a Crystal Ball.
"Madame Fateen!" Wes called out.
As if on cue, Footsteps were heard coming from the back of the house. Stepping out from the back of the house with a cane, was an elderly woman with pink hair wrapped in two buns on the side of her head. She was wearing a long black skirt with a purple sweater.
"Oh my, it seems I have visitors." She said with a chuckle and a smile on her faces.
She gingerly went towards Wes and Rui with the smile not leaving her face.
"How may I help you?" She asked kindly
"Well Madame Fateen-" Wes began only to be cut of by Madame Fateen
"Oh please call me mother." She said sweetly, "I am after all the Mother of Pyrite Town."
"Alright, Mother," Wes said, "We've come to see you because we need your help." He then took out Makuhita's pokeball and showed it to Madame Fateen. "There's something very wrong with this Makuhita."
Rui stepped up to Wes' side and took over talking.
"There's a black aura around it that only I can see. What's worse, is that it's incredibly violent and it will attack humans." She then looked at Wes as she continued to speak. "My friend's Espeon nearly died protecting him after Makuhita attacked him."
Wes grimaced at the mention of last nights battle and could remember the pain he felt when he saw Espeon get nearly beaten to death.
"Well that does sound like a terrible Pokemon." Madame Fateen said.
The fortune teller observed the Pokeball quietly for a moment and then spoke up.
"Come to my table."
Wes and Rui both nodded to each other and walked behind Madame Fateen with Espeon and Umbreon walking behind them. Madame Fateen sat down in the chair behind the crystal ball while Wes and Rui sat down in the two chairs in front.
"Now, may I see the pokeball?" Madame Fateen asked.
Wes nodded his head and handed her the item in question.
Madame Fateen set the pokeball down in front of her. She then closed her eyes while placing a gentle hand on the it. Wes and Rui both watched the Mother of Pyrite intently as she slowly breathed in and out.
Suddenly, Madame Fateen took her hand away from the pokeball and held her head in pain.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Rui asked worryingly.
Madame Fateen shook her head sadly.
"My concentration was broken by a terrible vision." She said grimly "I saw a city with beautiful flowing blue water soon to filled with blood. I could hear the terrified and pain filled screams of men women and children. However what made things painful was the actions were not done by humans but by a Pokemon."
Rui gasped while looked at Madame Fateen with a look of shock on his face.
"Mother, did this Pokemon in your vision have a black aura?" She asked in a terrified tone.
"I don't know child, The vision disappeared when I laid eyes on that Pokemon." Fateen replied.
Wes began to get worried as she mentioned both a destructive Pokemon and a city of water.
"Mother, Do you know any more about this city of Water?" He asked
Fateen shook her sadly, "No I don't, I only heard the screams of the people and the water around the city slowly but surely being filled with blood."
A look of horror formed on the face of Wes."
"Phenac City" He said almost inaudibly.
He then grabbed Rui's arm and forced her out of the chair.
"Ow! What are you doing!?" She said as she rubbed her arm.
"We have to go back, to Phenac City."
"Why?" Rui asked
"Remember when we both had that same bad feeling about there being more Pokemon with black aura's?" Wes asked in response.
Rui nodded her head.
"Well I think Madame Fateen's vision was a warning."
Rui gasped when she now realized what Wes was saying.
"I think your right! We have to get back to Phenac city and catch that Pokemon!" She said as she got up from her seat.
Espeon and Umbreon ran to Wes' side as Rui looked back at Fateen.
"Madame Fateen, may we come back later, we still need your help with, Makuhita."
Fateen nodded her head in response.
"Thank You, Come on Wes, let's get going!" Rui ordered.
Wes nodded his head in response and the group ran out of the house. They quickly tore through the street shoving a few people to the ground trying to get through a crowd. Once they were outside the city they all got into the motorcycle. Wes started the bike and took off towards Phenac city without a second thought.
Back inside Fateen's house, Fateen sat there with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.
"At last they've met, the one's whose destinies are intertwined." She said "Together, they will save the Pokemon that have been changed."