Oh, boy! NOW we're going into what makes this a what if story! I hope my little twist entertains all of you.
Michael pulled up in front of the hidden lab in the middle of the dessert.
"There it is…just as Vanter said…an old Lab…"
Looking to his left he saw a familiar transport.
"That's the car the Professor was taken in! He must be here!"
Just then the front door opened, and six men came out. Each one wearing a suit, similar to those of the Professors' kidnappers, but each a different color.
"We are sextuplets! We are! We are! We strike terror throughout the land! For we are the Hexagon Brothers!" the one in red yelled. He then turned to the others. "Sound off!"
"One!" the man in blue said.
"Two!" Said the one in orange.
"Three!" said the one in yellow.
"Four!" said the one in purple.
"Five!" said the one in green.
They stood there awkwardly before the one in red spoke up again. "…Wait. Five? That's it? Five? Aren't we missing someone?"
"That's ridiculously impossible!" The one in green replied. "Let me try it this time. Count off!"
"One!" the man in purple said.
"Two!" The one in yellow said.
"Three! The orange one said.
"Four!" the one in blue said.
"Five!" the one in red said. "…See! What did I say again? There is someone missing! But anyway, enough. He'll return soon enough, I'm sure." He then spotted Michael staring at them. "What we need to do, brothers, it this: lock and load on this suspicious kid! Hey, you brat!"
"Oh, sorry am I in the middle of something?" Michael asked sarcastically. "Carry on! Don't mind me!"
"This is no kiddy playground! We've been away for a while, but this here real estate's belonged to Cipher for many a year! If you don't quit scurrying about, we'll have to tell your mommy. If you don't want that to happen, then run along home!"
"Cipher? I thought they disbanded five years ago!"
"Oh, we did. But thanks to the new boss we're back and better than ever!"
"New boss? Who are you talking about?"
"That's confidential! And you don't need to know!"
The men each brought out their Pokeballs.
"Alright, fine! I'll storm this dump, take back the Professor and figure the rest out myself! Jolteon! Teddiursa!"
Inside the lab Professor Krane stood in a room with the man leading his abduction and a girl with long pink pigtails.
"Please Professor Krane? Will you tell me about your purification study? I do so want to know! That will let me power up my XD001. I so made it myself! Don't you think that would be fabulous?"
Krane sighed. "You've got to be joking! I would never cooperate with people like you!"
"Oh, but why? I so don't get it! Why would you refuse an offer so wonderful as this?"
"I don't care how often you repeat yourself. I have no intention of helping your Shadow Pokemon plan. Artificially slamming shut the hearts of Pokemon…it's inexcusable. Put a stop to it immediately."
The girl pouted. "Oh, you! You are so mean and closed-minded! You won't even try to understand how marvelous it is to help my XD001! Naps!"
The Cipher commander turned to her. "Yes! Sister Lovrina!"
"This is all your fault! Professor Krane is oh so cross because you were so rude when you invited him here!"
The man looked at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious. Listen to the man already! He's been saying all along hat he won't help our Shadow Pokemon plan…"
The girl covered her ears. "I can't hear you! The plan is perfect! …XD001's condition was off by just a little tiny bit."
Naps scoffed as he turned away. "Being off by a little tiny bit is enough to make it drop a ship? And would you look at the uproar…"
"Naps! It's so all your fault what happened, every tiny little bit! So…You so do something about it!"
Kane watched as the girl stomped off before turning to the man. "Naps, was it? You have my sympathy. What a nightmare it must be to have someone like her as your boss."
"Put a lid on it! When it comes right down to it, it's so all your fault. Come on, help us with XD001!"
Krane sat down in the chair near the desk. "First we need to talk. It'll teach you why it's such a bad mistake to create Shadow Pokemon."
Michael ran down the halls of the lab. He had taken down every Cipher member he encountered and snagged all their Shadow Pokemon. He entered another doorway and saw what looked like a conference room. Two scientists were still there.
"Whew. I never though Cipher's big man would begin to show up here in person. I saw him in real flesh and blood, and he's intimidating! He gives me shivers!"
"Our leader, is supposedly making a personal tour of all of Cipher's facilities. I think he wants to confirm that everything is fine, so he can proceed with his plans without ending up with a fiasco like last time."
"I'm still surprised on who he is. I mean of all the people in the world he's literally the last guy I would suspect! After what he did why would-
That's when one of them spotted Michael.
"What?! Who are you?! You, suspicious intruder!"
The other one turned around.
"How long were you there?!"
"Enough to know that your boss was here." Michael replied.
"You might be just a kid, but we can't let you walk out! Snubbull! Kecleon!"
"Jolteon! Teddiursa!"
The four Pokemon appeared.
"Jolteon, Thundershock on Snubbull! Teddiursa, Return on Kecleon!"
Jolteon shot a blast of lightning as Teddiursa charged into it's target.
"Now, Bite and Metal Claw!"
Jolton and Teddiursa rushed at the scientists Pokemon. The second attack knocked out both of them.
The scientist was in disbelief. "No way! Fine, I'll wipe you out with my big gun! Go, Shroomish!"
The mushroom shaped Pokemon came out. As soon as it did, Michael's Aura Reader activated.
"Oh! A Shadow Pokemon!"
"Shadow Blitz!"
The Shroomish charged at Jolteon who jumped back.
"Sand Attack!"
Jolteon kicked dirt into Shroomish's eyes. The blinded Pokemon started stumbling around.
"Teddiursa, Lick!"
The bear swiped the Pokemon with it's tongue. Shroomish stumbled backwards.
"What are you doing, Shroomish?! Shadow Blitz!"
The Pokemon didn't respond.
"What's going on?!"
"Ha! Paralyzed!" Michael grinned, loading the Snag Machine. "Just as planed!"
A Pokeball came out of his palm.
"Go, Snag Ball!"
He threw the Pokeball at the Shroomish. A hand came out that snatched in and dragged it into the ball.
After vibrating three times the Pokeball clicked and flew to Michaels hand.
"Ha! Another one down!"
The scientist was in shock. "Are you really a kid?"
"I'll ask the questions! Where's the Professor?"
"You came to rescue Proffesor Krane? Don't bother trying. You don't know how scary Lovrina—she's in charge here—can be. She looks cute and all, but she's nothing short of terrifying. Get out of here while you still can. It's for your own good!'
"Yeah, well if it's all the same to you, I'll try anyway." Michael smirked. "If she's like the rest of you, I'll be fine."
"Even if you do somehow take her down, you'll never beat the boss." The man shivered. "He's the toughest of the tough…He built Cipher again with his own hands…"
"Well, I'll just take him down! Just like how the hero of Orre took Cipher down five years ago!"
Both the scientists turned to each other.
"Kid…you have no idea what it is you're messing with…"
The scientist Michael defeated ran out of the room. As he did Michael saw something fall out of his pocket.
"What's this?" He asked picking it up.
"That would be his ID card." The other Scientist replied, still in his seat.
Michael turned to him. "Aren't you going to try to stop me?"
"Aiyiyi…I'm only a researcher here. I don't battle!"
"Suit, yourself. See ya!"
Michael hurried out of the room. The scientist turned back to the board.
"Some people still look up to the hero huh? Kinda makes this tragic…"
Professor Krane had explained his philosophy of why the Shadow Pokemon plan is a mistake. Naps only listened. Quietly.
"You understand, don't you? It's wrong to turn ordinary Pokemon into Shadow Pokemon against their will."
Naps didn't respond at first.
"Please, won't you help us stop this Shadow Pokemon plan? Join us, and help us save Pokemon!"
The man sighed. "…Professor Krane, I understand what you're trying to say, but I can't help you."
Michael rushed up the stairs leading into the room.
"Professor! Finally, found you!"
Both men turned to the boy in surprise.
"Whoa?! You…Aren't you that kid I saw at the Pokemon HQ Lab that time?"
"Michael? Is that really you Michael?!" Krane asked.
"Are you trying to tell me that you came here by your lonesome to rescue Professor Krane?"
"That was the plan at first…but know that I know what it is you're doing here, I'm shutting this place down too!" Michael replied.
Naps sighed as he turned to the Proffesor. "It's too bad, I'm still a member of Cipher. I can't very well let you folks go now, can I?" he said before turning back to Michael. "As for you…You snagged my Teddiursa from me that time!"
"Snagged it, AND purified it!"
"I'll give you this. You've got guts to come here alone. But I'll fix you good so you'll never get out again! Go, Murkrow! Rhyorn!"
"Jolteon! Teddiursa!"
Blazing on a red bike in the dessert sands a lone man was traveling through the dessert.
He heard a sound from his pocket then took a P*DA and opened a message.
He growled after reading it.
"Idiots."
He turned his bike around and hurried back in the direction he came from.
"Ledyba! Aerial Ace!"
The ladybug Pokemon Pokemon slammed into Naps' Slakoth. The Pokemon collapsed.
"You're good, punk…" Naps scowled.
"Yeah…you too."
Naps looked up to see Michael smile.
"Better than you were when you had a Shadow Pokemon. And better than anyone else in Cipher."
"Now do you see, Naps?" Profesor Krane asked. "Pokemon fight at their best with their hearts open."
Naps withdrew his last Pokemon. "Professor, Krane, you folks don't have the foggiest notion about how big and scary Cipher is. It's not smart to resist. You can go on about the poor abused Pokemon and all, but you should think about your own selves. That's my advice."
Michael and Krane watched as Naps ran out of the room.
"Poor guy…" Michael said. "He doesn't understand…"
Krane walked up to him. "Michael! Did you really come here by yourself? That's amazing."
"Well, what else was I gonna do, sit back and twiddle my thumbs? I'm just glad to see you in one piece."
Krane chuckled. "But it's dangerous here. We'd better get out right away. My worst fears turned out to be true about Cipher. They weren't wiped out. This is just one of their bases."
"That's not all." Michael added. "They got some new boss, running the place. Everyone here seems scared of him. I bet that's what has that guy-Naps you said his name was-so scared too."
"Yes. I heard as much. They say he reconstructed what little remained from Cipher after their defeat and build it into something bigger."
"Who is it though? We can't stop someone we don't even know the name of."
Krane nodded. "But the details can wait. Things could get complicated if they return. Let's get out of here quick!"
"Right! Follow me!"
Michael ran down the stairs and into the lower level.
"What was it they needed you for?"
"To power up a new project of theirs. XD001." Krane replied as they entered a elevator.
"XD001?"
"A Shadow Pokemon immune to purification."
Once the elevator reached the upper floor they ran down the hall.
"Immune to purification? Is that even possible?"
"Apparently they think it is. We need to complete the Purify Chamber ASAP."
"Mom's way ahead of you Professor! Come on, this elevator will get us out of here!"
Just when they were a few feet away from their goal the elevator came down on its own.
"Oh, come on!" Michael grumbled as they came to a halt.
One of the lab's scientists walked out. "Oh! Hey you!" You sneaked Krane out?! Lovrina! This child here, he's the intruder!"
He stepped aside so the girl could walk out of the elevator.
"Oh, wait! Wait! I so have not heard about anyone leaving anywhere!"
"We haven't ever heard of him coming here!" Michael retorted. "That didn't stop you from sending your punks over to drag him to this dump!"
Lovrina turned to him. "Professor Krane is so going to be very busy, oh so very busy! So, please be a nice boy and don't disturb us."
"Not happening! The Professor is coming home!"
"We're going back to the HQ Lab." Krane added. "Stand aside, please."
"Going back? Seriously!" the girl grumbled. "You are so joking! This, so happens to be where you work from now on! After all, we so need you to keep working on your studies. You so are the key to our plan."
"Plan?" Michael asked. "You mean…"
"XD001…the ultimate Shadow Pokemon that can never be purified!"
"Stop that nonsense!" Krane replied. "Do you seriously think that I would help you do something so terrible?"
Lovrina put her hands on her hips. "Oh…That Naps! He so must have made a boo-boo again! I so have to punish him lots!"
"Actually, Naps seems to have his head on straight." Michael. "At least more so than you!"
Lovrina turned to Michael again. "Little boy, maybe you can convince Professor Krane. You should so tell him to study our XD001. You see, our plan is to make Shadow Pokemon that can never be purified. XD001 is only our first prototype."
"So?"
"So, when we work out the problems, we can make combat units with XD series Pokemon. Wouldn't that be just peachy? But we so need the professor's cooperation for our plan. So please, sweetie, can you please ask him nicely to help?"
"Yeah. Maybe I can do that." Michael replied with a hand on his chin.
Professor Krane looked at him in shock. "Michael!"
"And maybe after that I can "Ask him nicely" to knit me a flying Grumpig out of Mareep wool so I can fly off into space and catch Deoxys or something with a Net Ball!"
Lovrina's smile became a pout. "Oh, how nasty! You, silly boy! You won't help me with XD001 either?"
"What gave it away, my sarcastic tone?"
"Oh, you'll be sorry now! But you will so understand! A little hurt is so persuasive!"
Both trainers took out two Pokeballs each. "Go Luvdisc and Beautifly!"
"Jolteon! Ledyba!"
The Pokemon came out ready for action.
"Ledyba! Supersonic!"
A ray emitted from the bugs, face dazzling Beautifly. It's eyes became swirls as it started flying out of control.
"Come on, Beautifly! Use Gust!"
The butterfly Pokemon flew straight into a wall and fell to the floor.
"Now, Jolteon, Thundershock!"
A blast of lightning struck the Beautifly knocking I out.
"Grr! You're tougher than I thought!" Lovrina growled. "Alright, go Roselina!"
The Beautifly was switched out for the green Pokemon.
"My turn! Luvdisc, Water Gun!"
The heart-shaped Pokemon shot a burst of water into Jolteon's face, knocking it back.
"Roselina, Poison Sting!"
The Pokemon held up the red rose on it's hand. A swarm of needles flew into Ledyba. The Pokemon winced in pain as it suffered the effects of poison.
"Ha! Now your little ladybug is weakened!"
"You think?" Michael grinned. "Ledyba! Use Refresh!"
A white light burst from the Pokemon, curing its poison.
"What?! Come on!"
"Jolteon, Thundershock, on Luvdisc!"
The electric Pokemon used another bolt, taking the Water type down.
"Oh, that's it!" Lovrina snarled. The scientist behind her backed away. "Go, Delcatty!"
The second Lovrina's last Shadow Pokemon appeared Michael's Aura Reeder activated.
"Oh! A Shadow Pokemon!"
"Go, Shadow Wave!"
The Pokemon shot two lights at both Ledyba and Jolteon. Both hit them directly.
"Alright…first things first." Michael said. "Ledyba, Arial Ace!"
The bug Pokemon swopped in and landed a critical hit on Roselia. The Pokemon fainted from the blow.
"Jolteon, thundershock!"
Another blast and Jolteon severely weakened the Delcatty.
"And now…" Michael smirked as he loaded a Greatball into the Snag Machine. "Go, Snag Ball!"
The Great Ball snatched up the Shadow Pokemon. After three quick vibrates it clicked.
"Gottcha!"
Lovrina looked at Michael in shock.
"What on earth? How can you be strong?"
"Simple." Michael smirked as we withdrew his Pokemon. "I didn't think you were about to let the Professor go without a fight! So, I trained up on Mount Battle before coming here!"
"Ooh, I so hate to say this! Little boy, I can't beat you right now. The boss will be so cross with me, but…But that's okay. I'll let you owe me this one time. But you have to promise you will think about my plan next time."
"What?"
"If you see XD001, I'm sure you will so want to help me. I'll so be waiting for you!"
With that Lovrina ran for the elevator.
"L-Lovrina!"
The scientist ran inside just as the elevator started to close.
"Weird girl." Michael sighed.
"Michael, you have grown tough, haven't you?" Krane grinned. "In fact I'm amazed at how much stronger you've grown in this short a time."
"Heh, heh. Well, I did train hard before coming here."
"I guess we'll be relying on you even more from now on Michael. Now that we know Cipher is back, we need to move quickly. We have to come up with ways of stopping them."
"Leave it to me! I'll take em all on!"
"Ha, ha, ha! Being able to play the role the hero did five years ago…this must be a dream come true to you."
"You have no idea!"
"First things first. This time let's really head back to the HQ Lab!"
"Right."
When Michael turned to the elevator he saw something on the floor.
"What's this?"
"Hmm? Did that scientist drop it?"
"They really need to stop doing that." Michael said picking it up. "Looks like a data rom."
"Here, may I see that?"
Michael handed the object to Professor Krane.
"Hmm…this may be something important. We'll take it back and analyze it."
The two went into the elevator and ascended to the upper floor. As they stepped out and walked towards the entrance Michael turned to the yellow machine close by. "Hang on. Just gonna heal my team up real, quick. Fighting Naps and Lovrina in a row without rest must have worn them out."
"Good idea." The professor said. "We can't grantee that we won't run into trouble on the way back.
Michael loaded his Pokemon into the machine and it started glowing.
"There we are. Okay, let's blow this joint!"
As soon as they stepped outside the Professor shielded his eyes.
"Oh, dear!"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, don't mind me. Just being cooped up in there for so long has left me sensitive to the light. Where to?"
"I parked not far from here. Let's-Wait…"
"What?"
"Do you hear something?"
Directed by the sound of an engine they looked into the distance. A red bike slowly emerged from the sands.
"Who's that?" Michael asked.
The two walked towards the bike as it got close. It came to a screeching halt. The man ridding it looked up at the two of them.
"So, you already got the Professor out."
Michael finally got a good look at him. He had some sort of silver shades over his eyes, white hair, a blue coat, and a black machine on his left arm. He stepped off the bike and approached slowly.
Michael couldn't believe it. He had a white stripe over his face.
"No way…You're…"
The wind blew at him, making his coat flow.
"Are you…Wes?!"
The man looked directly at the boy. He was taller then he was in the picture Michael saw.
"Wes?! The hero of Orre?!" Professor Krane asked. "Are you sure?!"
"Yeah…that is him!" Michael said with a bright smile. "Eagun had a picture of him at his house!"
"You talked to Eagun?" Wes asked.
"Yeah! You're friends with him, right?"
Wes looked down for a moment. His shades still over his eyes, reflecting sunlight.
"I can't believe it's really you...What are you doing here? Did you find out about Cipher and come to help?" the boy asked.
Wes slowly reached for his belt.
"No…I received a message on my P*DA."
"Message?"
"It said that someone was running rampart around our lab. I didn't think that someone would just be some kid."
"Well, I wouldn't say I…Wait…"Our" lab?"
Wes took out two Pokeballs. "I cannot allow you to leave with the Professor."
Michael and Krane looked at him in utter shock.
"You can't…what are you saying?!"
"It can't be…" Krane said. "Are you…working for Cipher?"
Wes laughed. "For them? Don't be dense. They work for me."
Michael felt something pierce his heart. "What…no…Cipher's new boss…it's you?"
He threw the Pokeballs. "Umbreon. Espeon." The two Eevee evolutions emerged. "Attack!"
The two Pokemon rushed at Michael and Krane.
"Look out!"
The professor dove into Michael, moving him out of the way just in time. When the Pokemon landed, they made a beeline for them again.
"L-Ladyba! Teddiursa!" Michael threw two Pokeballs and brought out two of his Pokemon.
Wes's expression didn't change. "Feint Attack! Psychic!"
Umbreon charged towards Teddiursa. Just when it was right in front of it, it dashed to the left before ramming unto it from the left, catching it off guard. Espeon stared at Ladyba and a swirl of purple engulfed it.
In those two attacks alone, Teddiursa and Ledyba were knocked out.
"Teddiursa! Ledyba!"
"In one hit each…" Krane gaped. "Is this the strength of the hero?"
"This is the Trainer that defeated everyone in the lab?" Was scoffed. "Ha. I wasn't expecting much from those grunts. But how could Naps and Lovrina lose to someone who still has this much to learn?"
Michael looked at him. "Why…? Why are you doing this?"
Wes looked back with a blank expression.
"It needs to be done."
Umbreon and Espeon charged at Michael again.
"AHHHH!"
Michael threw his last Pokeball out of pure instinct. As it came out Jolteon crashed into Wes's Pokemon in mid-air. As all three were sent back Jolteon stepped to it's Trainers' side. Espeon and Umbreon rushed to Wes's.
The Jolteon looked at the enemy Trainer. It shuddered and stepped back.
"J-Jolteon? What's wrong?" Michael asked.
Wes's Pokemon stared at the Jolteon. Suddenly they too, backed up.
"Umbreon? Espeon?"
Wes looked at the Jolteon. After staring at it for a couple of seconds he seemed slightly surprised.
"It can't be…you're…"
There were a few seconds of silence. Michael was waiting for Wes to give the order to attack.
"Tch. Umbreon, Espeon, return."
Michael and Krane were in disbelief as the Pokemon were called back.
"This is your last warning kid. Stay out of our way. You can take the Professor back. He clearly wasn't ever going to help us anyway. And we've got better things to do than babysit for him."
Wes slowly turned back to his bike.
"Wait! What happened to you?!" Michael asked. "Why would you rebuild the team you fought so hard to take down?!"
Wes said nothing as he climbed onto his bike.
"I had so much respect for you!" the boy yelled. "I looked up to you! You were a hero!"
Wes looked back at Michael.
"Things change."
With that the motor roared and he left on his bike.
As Michael was left in the dust he fell to his knees then his hands.
Krane could only look at him in concern.
And THAT is the gist of this what if based off of trivia I found. For those of you who don't know, the original plan for Pokemon XD was that Wes, the protagonist of Colosseum was going to be the main villain leading Cipher. But developers decided to scrap this, saying it was too edgy for a Pokemon game. Okay, 1: Pokemon X and Y had that Ultimate Weapon that killed thousands of Pokemon out of a act of vengeance, and THAT isn't edgy? And 2: If they went through with this and gave Wes good justification for being a villain now, it would have made him a very interesting character and would have made for a very interesting story. On the other hand, if they were just going to make him a one note villain who's just evil for the heck of it, then it's probably for the best that the idea got scrapped. But in any event, this will be going on my take on how that kind of plot could have gone. I hope I made Wes come off as the mysterious antagonist I wanted to make him in this chapter. I also hope you guys enjoy this what if as it unfolds. See ya next time!
