Wes spent the next morning still at his computer. He stopped in the middle of the night to carry Rui back to her room. But he had yet to sleep himself.
He didn't even notice Rui walk into his office. Not until she put a tray down next to his computer. It had pancakes and a glass of orange juice. Wes looked over his shoulder to see her smiling at him.
"Good morning Wes. I brought you some breakfast."
"Good morning." He replied turning back to his computer.
Rui nervously twisted her boot against the floor. "Hey Wes…something happened last night…but I think it might have just been a dream…Was it?"
"Did it involve me?"
"Er...yes." Rui replied with a slight blush.
Without warning Wes stood up turned around and kissed Rui lightly on her forehead. "There." He smirked. "I think that answers your question."
Rui's blush grew as she giggled. "Thank you, Wes. I was back in my bed when I woke up this morning…I thought I might have just dreamt it up…"
"Sorry. Thought you'd be more comfortable in a bed so I took you back to your room."
"Thanks…er…did anyone see us?"
"I doubt it. The only ones who'd be awake were the guys doing that late night report. Why?"
"Uh, nothing, nothing." Rui chuckled nervously.
"Alright. By the way, how was training with Dunking?"
Rui looked at the new belt around her waist. After the incident she decided to become a trainer. She wanted to be able to protect herself. But what she didn't expect to happen when she told Wes was for him to give her his Espeon. Naturally she was reluctant. After all, Espeon and Wes were together before she met either of them. But Wes was convinced after seeing her battle with Espeon against Greevil that she was a worthy trainer. Wes also gave her the Meganium he caught as a Bayleef, his Amparos that he evolved from Flaaffy, the Altaria he evolved from Swablu, his Togetic and finally Suicune.
"I think I'm finally getting used to being a trainer. So…what about you? Are you going to take a break from looking into Shadow Lugia like you promised?"
"I am. I'm working on something else with equal importance."
"Wes, you know that's not what I meant by- Rui's stern expression suddenly changed. "Wait…what's as important as Lugia?"
"Before Michael shut down the factory two men stole the last Shadow Pokemon on the production line."
"Who were they?"
"I got descriptions. They were vague. But they reminded me of the clowns that abducted you before we met. Folly and Trudy."
"Those two? Didn't they work for Cipher?"
"Not anymore. I asked Michael if he saw either of them. He said that he had a few encounters with them and their boss."
"Who's that?" Rui asked.
"He can't remember the name. But he remembers a ridicules hairdo shaped like a Pokeball. Sound familiar to you?"
"Mirror B."
Wes nodded. "Apparently he's trying to start his own team now. I've been trying to find him but he's doing a good job covering his tracks. I've asked Michael to let me know if he finds something." Suddenly the P*DA at his desk started ringing. "And I'll bet that's him right now."
He opened it up and read the message.
Wes! I know where Mirror B is! He's at Gateon Port on the lighthouse! I'm heading over there now!
"Oh, good." Rui said. "Michael can take a creep like Mirror B!"
"Maybe."
The girl looked at Wes in surprise. "Maybe?"
"But that last Shadow Pokemon is another story." Wes said as he started typing.
Michael, this is Wes. Wait for me at Gateon Port. Mirror B's Shadow Pokemon is one of the strongest ever produced. Probably the second strongest next to Shadow Lugia. You may need my help.
Michael sighed as he tapped his foot. "What's taking him so long?" He stood at the entrance to the port. He had been waiting for the last fifteen minutes. Suddenly he heard the motor of a motorcycle. Looking behind him, he saw Wes on his bike. Rui was stationed in the sidecar. He pulled up in front of him. "Finally!" Michael groaned. "I know the lab's closer to Gateon than Pyrite but come on!"
"Heh. Kids." Wes smirked as he lifted his shades off his eyes. "Always in a rush."
"So, is this thing really that powerful?"
"It is." Wes nodded. "And Mirror B's Peons, Folly and Trudly may try to get in the way."
"Those pathetic punks? Do they even battle?"
"Don't get careless. That's when things go wrong. Is Mirror B still at the lighthouse?"
"Are you kidding?" Michael groaned. "He's been up there, blaring music loud enough to cover the whole port before I got here."
"You had to listen to that?" Rui asked, covering her ears. "No wonder you're impatient."
"So, let's do this already!" Michael groaned.
"Alright, aright." Wes said. "Let's head to the lighthouse and find a way up there."
"That'll take too long." Michael replied. "Salamance!"
He brought his dragon type Pokemon out and climbed onto it's back. "Race you up there!"
Wes and Rui watched as he flew towards the tower. "No hesitation. Just takes action without second guessing himself…that's why he's the hero. I could never be like that."
"Second guessing just shows how much you don't want to fail, Wes." Rui replied cupping his cheek. "That's another sign of a hero."
"Hmm…we should hurry. Can't let the kid hog the spotlight."
Wes took out his Flygon. Rui brought out her Altaria.
"I've never flown on a Pokemon before…" Rui said nervously.
"Trust Altaria and you'll be fine."
They climbed onto their Pokemon and flew towards the tower. When they reached the top Michael was already in the middle of his battle. His Salamance and Ledian against two of Mirror B's Ludicolo.
Folly and Trudly slowly inched towards Michael from behind.
"This is the boss's last stand." Folly said. "We can't let the kid win."
"Right. Let's get him from behind."
"Hold it."
Wes and Rui landed in front of them.
"Wait what?! You two again?!" Trudy yelled.
"Well isn't this a surprise!" Mirror B said. "I didn't think I'd see either of you again!"
"You got your posse, I got mine!" Michael smirked.
"The two of us can handle this." Wes said.
"Right." Rui nodded stepping forward.
"Thanks guys." Michael smiled. "Now, where were we? Salamance, Arial Ace!"
"Wait the two of you?" Folly asked.
"I can battle to." Rui glared.
"HA! You? What are you gonna do, cheer for him from inside the sack?"
"I'm not the scared girl you creeps kidnapped five years ago. I'm a trainer now!"
"Alright then! Two on two! Go Exploud!"
"Machoke!"
Folly and Turdy sent out there Pokemon.
"Flygon! Earthquake!"
Wes's Pokemon roared as it slammed it's foot into the ground, shaking the tower. Both Exploud and Machoke lost composure.
"Altaria, Sky attack!"
Rui's Pokemon spread it's wings and started to glow.
"Machoke! Stop that bird! Rock slide!"
Turdy's Pokemon slammed it's hands into the ground and threw chunks of it at Altaria.
"Flygon return!" Wes ordered. His dragon went back to it's Pokeball. "Go, Raikou!"
The electric type legendary roared as it came out of the ball. It rushed to Altaria and shielded from the rocks.
"Hyper Voice!"
Folly's Exploud roared so laud, it hurt Raikou and Altaria.
"Ow! Go figure he has a Pokemon as loud as him!" Rui groaned covering her ears. "Altaria!"
The Dragon type rushed at full force into Machoke, knocking it down and out.
"Darn it! Go Ariados!" Turdy yelled sending out his next Pokemon.
"Altaria, return!" Rui said as she withdrew her Pokemon. "Go, Suicune!"
The water type Legendary appeared next to Raikou. They both roared in sync.
"Rain Dance!"
Suicune cried out into the sky. A downpour came.
"Wes!"
"Right. Raikou, Thunder!"
Wes's legendary summoned a powerful bolt striking down Folly's Exploud.\
"What?! No way!"
"Ariados, Sludge Bomb!"
Turdy's Pokemon shot a purple sphere of ozze and Suicune. The water type took the hit but brushed I off.
"Surf!"
On Rui's command, it brought up a massive wave, slamming into Ariados and both Turdy and Folly.
"Gah! No fair!" Folly growled as the soaking we trainers got up.
"Raikou, return." Wes called back his Pokemon before throwing a Pokeball. "Umbreon!" His Eevee evolution appeared.
"Suicine, you too!" Rui said as her Pokemon went back into the Ultraball. "Espeon!" The psychic type came out next to it.
"Darn it! We can't go out like this!" Folly growled. "Ludicolo!"
"Dusclops!"
Wes turned to Rui as the rain stopped and their opponents sent out their last Pokemon. "Ready to end this?"
"You know it!"
"Umbreon, Bite!" The dark type bit Dusclops.
"Shadow Ball!" Rui's Espeon shot a dark sphere at the ghost type knocking it out.
"What?! No way! How's this girl so dang strong?!"
"Hydro Pump!"
Folly's Ludicolo shot a Torrent of water at Espeon. The psychic type was blown back.
"Umbreon, Confuse Ray!"
Wes's Pokemon summoned an ominous light. Ludicolo watched as it spun around it a few times before getting dizzy.
"Rui!"
"Psychic!"
Espeon unleashed a mental attack at the Pokemon further stunning it.
"Umbreon, Return!"
The dark type rammed its head into Ludicolo finishing it off.
"No! Not again!" Folly growled.
Rui and Wes smiled to each other. They then looked back to see Michael down to his last Pokemon. Jolteon. Mirror B's Dragonite burst free from a Snagball.
"Come on!" Michael growled.
"That's the Shadow Pokemon…" Rui said.
Wes nodded.
"Looks like you finally reached the end of your rope kid!" Mirror B gloated. "Dragonite! Stomp his last Pokemon flat!"
As the dragon charged Michael fished out a Pokeball.
"Last one…"
He loaded it into the Snag Machine as Jolteon danced around Draonite's attacks. He looked nervously at the Shadow Pokemon.
"Michael, don't panic."
He looked back to Wes. "Don't hesitate. Believe in yourself. That is your greatest strength."
A small smile rose to Michael's face. He turned back to Dragonite.
"Go…Snagball!"
Michael threw his Last Pokeball. It snatched up Dragonite. One vibration. Two. Three.
Click.
"YES!"
Mirror B, slouched. "Battling with you, I can't find the right groove at all."
"Boss!" Trudy and Folly ran over to him.
Wes walked over and put a hand on Michael's shoulder. "Good job."
"Thanks. You guys did good too. Must have felt like old times, huh?"
"Heh. You could say that."
"See? Like I said at the factory. Once a hero always a hero."
Mirror B. Stomped his foot. "How dare you! I say, how dare you! That Shadow Draginite was Cipher's very last Shadow Pokemon! First you two now this boy! Why are there so many people coming to meddle with my affairs?!"
"It's over Mirror B." Wes said. "It doesn't matter if you're with Cipher or not. If all you do is villainy, there will always be someone to stop you."
"There's only one thing to do now!" Mirror B said as he twirled and struck a pose. "Let's go! Escape!" He bolted for the elevator. His defeated Ludicolo got up and ran for the stairs.
"Huh?! Boss!"
"Wait for us!"
Folly and Turdy ran to the stairs themselves.
"Heh. Like old times alright." Rui giggled.
"That was amazing, Rui! When did you become a trainer?" Michael asked.
"I thought, well…maybe I wouldn't have to force you guys into dangerous situations to save me if I learned to stand up for myself."
"Defeating your kidnappers is proof that it worked in my book." Wes said smiling. "I'm proud of you Rui. So are Espeon and your other Pokemon."
Rui giggled with a slight blush. "Thanks Wes."
Wes then turned to their friend. "By the way, Michael, how did you find Mirror B so easily? All the searching, Nett and I did proved fruitless."
"I had this." Michael said taking out the Mirror Radar. "One of his goons dropped it after I beat him the first time. It's a radar."
Bzzownt
"ACK!"
Michael dropped the device as sparks flew out of it. Wes picked it up from the floor. He looked at the screen, but it displayed nothing. "Looks like Mirror B just found out he was being tracked. The radar's busted."
"Darn."
"Oh, well. What matters is we got the Dragonite. With this, all of the Shadow Pokemon have been snagged."
"All that's left is to purify them." Michael smiled. "And then it'll all be over."
"Speaking of that, any luck with Shadow Lugia?"
"No…I've tried everything, but no change."
"Is it really impossible to purify it?" Rui asked.
"I'm not giving up yet. There has to be a way." Michael said.
"See what I mean?" Wes smirked.
"Huh?"
"You never give up. And that's what makes you a hero."
Michael smiled back. "Thanks. Coming from you, that means a lot to me. Well, anyway, I'm off to purify Dragonite! See ya!"
The next day, Wes was back at his computer. Rui was at his side, watching him. There was a ring from Wes's P*DA and he opened it. "It's Michael. He purified, Dragonite, Zapdos, Moltres and Atricuno. All that's left now is Lugia."
"Any luck?" Rui asked, swinging her legs at the chair she was in.
"No. I compare all of Krane's data with Lovrina's and I got nothing. There must be something I'm overlooking."
Suddenly they heard the ONBS news music play from above them. They must be doing a news flash.
"I like the new music they have." Rui smiled "The tempo's a little fast though..."
Wes's eyes widened. "Tempo…" He started typing something in. "Yes…Yes, that might be it!"
"Wes?"
Michael sighed as he sat on the steps of the HQ Lab entrance. He looked at the Masterball holding Shadow Lugia.
Jovi took a seat next to him. "Still nothing?"
"No…"
"Wow. It's a stubborn bird." Jovi said looking inside the Pokeball. "Who's a stubborn bird? You're a stubborn bird!"
The sound of a motorcycle filled their ears. Wes came out of the clearing in the trees with his bike and Rui in the sidecar.
"Michael!"
"Wes?"
The bike pulled up as Michael and Jovi rushed down the stairs.
"This guy is the hero?" Jovi asked. "Wow…he's a lot taller than Jovi imagined."
"Hello." Rui smiled, squatting down to the girl. "Do you work here?"
"This is Jovi." Michael said. "My sister."
"Hello."
"Hi Jovi. My name is Rui, nice to meet you."
"What brings you guys here?" Michael asked as the girls shook hands.
Wes turned to him. "Show me the Purification Chamber. I think I finally found an answer."
Everyone in the Lab gathered in the Purification Chamber. Wes was sitting down working at a PC. The 9 slots in the Purification Chamber were full. In set 9 there was Magcargo, Scyther and Exeggutor. In set 8 Rapidash, Beedrill, and Starmie. In slot 8 Shiftry, Cloyster, and Farfetch'd. In set 7 Primeape, Magneton, and Butterfree. In set 6 Piloswine, Roselia, and Golduck. Set 5, Tangla, Sandslash and Magmar. In set 4 Solrock, Hitmonlee, and Mightyena. In set 3, Dragonite, Hitmonchan, and Lapras. In set 2 Nosepass, Pinser, and Victreebel. And finally, in set 1, Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno. In the center of set 1 was Shadow Lugia.
"Alright." Wes said. "The tempo of all sets is set to max."
"Let's hope this works." Professor Krane said.
"If not, we'll try something else." Michael said stepping onto the pad in the center of the room. "This hero doesn't give up." He smirked glancing at Wes, who returned the smirk with a nodded.
"Alright. We're ready." A scientist at a computer started the chamber. Michael was taken to the virtual space. He looked up to see the Shadow Lugia in set 1
"Well Michael?" Rui's voice asked from the Lab room.
"Something's different about the Lugia! Maybe…"
A bright light dropped from the ceiling and onto the Shadow Pokemon A bright green explosion enveloped Michael's eyes. He shielded them from the flash. Then he looked up to see the once purple Pokemon back to it's original white color. It's eyes no linger red.
"It worked…It worked! Lugia is back to normal!"
As Michael was brought back to the room he was greeting by cheering. Jovi jumped into him and gave him a hug.
"Way to go, Michael!" Rui smiled.
Krane patted the boy on the back. "I'll say! Those Cipher cretans said that it couldn't be purified, but you've proven them wrong!"
"Michael, it's because you never shirked, and you gave it your all. Sincerely, thank you." Lily smiled. "Sincerely, thank you dear!"
"And now every Shadow Pokemon has been purified!" Michael smiled. "We've finally beaten Cipher for good! Can you believe it Wes? Wes?"
Everyone looked over to the chair Wes was sitting at to see him slumped against it with his eyes closed. His chest rose and dropped with each slow breath.
"What happened?" Krane asked. "Is he okay?"
Rui giggled as she walked over to him. "I guess all those nights without sleep have finally caught up to him." She cupped the side of his face. "He looks so peaceful…he must be relieved."
"You're both welcome to stay here for the night if you like." Lily smiled. "It's the least we can do."
"Thanks. I think we'll take you up on that."
Jovi threw her hands into the air. "YAY! Jovi can have a sleepover with Rui and the hero!"
Everyone laughed at her enthusiasm.
Rui looked back at Wes. "Finally…it's all over."
Next chapter will be the finale for this story. I would like to thank all who supported it and hope that the finale will be worth the wait.
