And now for the final chapter. I appreciate all those who supported this, and enjoyed writing it. May this final chapter be everything you hoped for.
The next morning, Rui was in the guest room Lily gave Wes. The man was still sound asleep. Rui sat in a chair next to the bed holding his hand. She had been there ever since she woke up.
"Rui!"
The girl watched Jovi and Meg entered the room.
"Megg! What brings you out here?"
"You didn't know?" Jovi asked. "Mom called all of big brother's friends to celebrate the end of the bad guys!"
"Is Wes alright?" Megg asked, tilting her head to look at the man.
"Yeah. He's just sleeping."
"Oh."
"Come join us!" Jovi smiled. "Mom brought out snacks and music! You'll miss out!"
"Sure." Rui smiled. "Just give me a minute."
"Okay!"
She waited as Megg and Jovi left the room. She then looked at Wes and leaned in close. "Sleep well my prince." She whispered before kissing his forehead. She blushed as she left the room.
As she left, she didn't see a smile form on Wes's face.
Later Rui was sitting at a table with cookies with Megg and Jovi.
"Hard to believe it's all over, huh?" Megg asked.
"Yeah…say, where's Michael?" Rui asked.
"He's battling Aferd." Jovi said munching on another cookie. "When will your boyfriend wake up? He'll miss all the fun."
"Well he's been up for whole nights without rest and- Rui dropped the cookie in her hand and blushed a deep red with her eyes wide when the words hit her head. "Wait my WHAT?!"
"Huh? Jovi thought you and the hero were in love."
"When did you hear that?!"
Nett approached behind Megg. "Maybe we should tell her now."
"Yeah…"
"T-tell me what?"
"Well, Rui…" Megg said spinning her finger across the table in circles, avoiding eye contact. "We kinda could hear you yell "I love you Wes" all over the ONBS building."
Rui's eyes widened again as her blush deepened further.
"And the news team was doing a broadcast in the room directly above you. And the camera's miiiiiight have picked that up. And it was on the air before we could notice or do anything about it."
There was dead silence at first. Then she slumped against the table and covered her face with her hands. "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
A short distance away in the room Perr turned to Bitt, who both had soda cans. "Hey, that reminds me."
"Ugh. And it was just three days before the deadline too." Bitt fished out 600 Pokedollars and handed them over to Perr.
Megg patted her friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry Rui…everyone's happy for you! And to be honest, we all kinda saw it coming."
"You do love him, right?" Jovi asked.
Rui slowly rose her head back up. Still embarrassed and nervous. "Y-yes…he was so brave and nice to me…he saved me when we first met…"
"Oooh! That sounds sweet! Tell Jovi more!"
"W-well…okay…it's just between us okay?"
"Sure!"
"I won't tell." Megg added.
Rui sighed. "Five years ago, I was on my way to visit my grandparents. I stopped by Pyrite for a quick bite to eat."
Rui walked through Pyrate. She had never been to the shady town before. It was a tad scary. She then heard noises. She walked over to the battle square. Then she saw something. A trainer with a Makuhita but there was something strange about it. It looked angry. But it also had a dark aura around it.
"Huh? Wh-what's with that Pokemon?" She watched in horror as it attacked the opponent's trainer. "Oh my gosh!"
The Pokemon's owner walked to the downed trainer and took some money from their pocket. Rui ran as fats as she could. She didn't even notice where she was going until she bumped into someone.
"ACK! Hey watch it!"
"Eeek! S-sorry!"
"What's got you so spooked girl?"
"I…I saw a really scary Pokemon."
"What kind of scary?"
"I-it had this black aura…and it just attacked a person."
The man looked at Rui for a second. "You're sure you saw it?"
"Yes!"
"Come with me."
Rui followed the strange man into a nearby alleyway.
"Where are we go-MPH!"
Without warning he wrapped one hand over her m, keeping her arms pinned and the other hand covered her mouth. The an waited as Rui struggled in his grip. Then he saw the trainer with the Pokemon walk by.
"Psst! Turdy! Over here!"
The man turned to his comrade. "Folly? What are you doing in there? Who's that?"
"Just get in here!"
Rui was swallowed by fear as the other man sighed as he walked into the ally. "Okay, what's up?"
"This girl saw the Pokemon you got from the boss!"
"So? Everyone I took down saw it."
"No, but she saw how it was unique!"
"What?! How?! We were told that it looks like an ordinary Pokemon to everyone's eyes!"
"I don't know, but we should take her to the boss! Gah! Will you stop squirming!"
Rui yelled into the hand gagging her as she tried to shake Folly off.
Turdy got out a Pokeball. "I got it! Spinarak!"
A small spider Pokemon came out.
"Folly, move! String Shot!"
Folly let Rui go who gasped and fell to her knees.
"What are you guys-MPH!"
Before Rui got a sentence in a blob of web sealed itself over her mouth. Just as she tried to reach for it and take it off, Turdy grabbed her arms and wrapped them around her body before a string on silk, was wrapped around her upper body, trapping her arms. Next thing Rui knew, she was hugging herself in a thick cocoon. Folly and Turdy then lifted her up and pressed her against the wall, sticking her to it. She immediately kicked Turdy in the chest.
"OW! Hey, do something about the kicking, will ya!"
Spinarak shot one last trail of silk, binding Rui's feet together before Turdy pressed them against the wall, trapping her to it.
"MMMPH!" Rui thrashed about in her bonds, hopping to find a way out of them.
"Is that gonna hold?" Folly asked.
"For now." Turdy replied, returning his Pokemon. "We better find something sturdier, so she doesn't get free, while we get her to the boss."
"I'll go look for some rope or something. You keep an eye on her."
"Right. Contact the boss while you're at it."
"Got it!"
Folly ran of as Turdy looked back at Rui. "Ya shouldn't have seen that girl. How could you tell my Pokemon was different anyway?"
Rui kept struggling.
"Well? I asked ya a question girlly! Say something! Ya got cotton in your ears?!"
The girl just glared at him.
Soon Folly returned with a sack. "The boss want's us to take her to him ASAP!"
"Alright. Maybe he can loosen her tongue."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm trying to get her to tell me how she saw my Pokemon but she ain't replying!"
Folly just looked at Trudy awkwardly.
"What?!"
"She can't tell you because we put web over her mouth you dufus!"
A look of realization came on Trudy's face. "Ooooooooh. Well why didn't you say something girl?!"
Folly slapped his forehead. Rui just sighed into her gag.
"Just help me out here man." The thug said, dumping a small length of rope and a roll of tape out of the sack.
"Folly, that rope's nowhere near long enough."
"That's for tying off the sack. Once we tape her up, we'll dump her in here."
"Oh. Good idea."
Rui's blood froze. She tugged against her bonds as hard as she could. She felt a sense of hope as she realized that the web was starting to stretch. But then her kidnappers ripped her down from the wall. Turdy ripped a strip of tape as Folly took the web off her mouth.
"Someone! Help m-MPH!"
"Hush!" Turdy growled, slapping the tape over her mouth. Soon the web was completely replaced by tape. Around her wrists, thighs and ankles, wound tight enough to keep her arms or legs from moving. She whimpered as they dumped her into the sack. Once it was knotted off tightly all light was sealed off.
"Wow." Megg said. "You must have been scared."
"Yeah." Rui nodded. "I had no idea where I was going or what they were going to do with me…It was getting harder to breath. Soon I was dumped into some kind of truck. It left the city and stopped at one point. When they left I tired to get the tape off. But they soon came back, and the truck took off again. On the second stop they took me out."
Rui could feel one of her kidnappers, holding her feet. The other held her shoulders. She hadn't given up getting free, but the tape was stuck to her arms and legs. Then she thought, about the tape on her mouth. If she could get that gag off so she could call for help. She started rubbing her mouth against her shoulder. Her heart soared when she noticed it was slowly peeling off.
"Hey, what are you doing? Get a grip, man!" Folly whispered.
"Yeah, you say that, but this…It won't stop squirming. Makes it tough to hold on."
"Mmmph…" Rui grunted as the tape was halfway off her mouth.
"Okay, okay. Settle down in there. Just be quiet for a little while longer."
"Mgflpmmmgg…Beh!" Rui finally got enough of it off to speak. The tape still clung to the side of her face. "Help! Someone let me out! Kidnappers!"
"Tch! That tape didn't keep her yap shut!" Turdy grumbled. "Hey quit your shouting!"
Rui then heard Folly's voice. "Oh, drat! Did that punk there hear all that?!"
Rui felt herself hit the hard ground and yelped. She heard Turdy and Folly's footsteps approach. Then she heard a new voice.
"And what if I did?"
"Since you overheard us, we don't have any choice. Blame it on your own bad luck!"
Rui felt her heart soar. Someone heard her. She'd get out of this...hopefully. All her failed attempts to free herself left her too tired to move. She could hear faint commands and Pokemon battling. She trembled nervously, hopping that whoever heard her win. She was anxious by the time she heard Folly yell.
"Gaah! You're tougher than you look!"
Rui sighed in relief.
"You took out my Whismur…you're no ordinary trainer, are you?! Huh? Wait a sec…That face…Might you be…Team Snagum's…"
Rui heard more footsteps running to her.
"What, what?! What's going on out here?!"
"Eeeek! Somebody! Robbers! They're Robbers!"
"Y-you be quiet! We're not robbers! We're kidnappers! Get it? Kidnappers!"
"Wha…you dingbat! Don't shoot off your mouth!" Folly yelled before turning to the man that beat him. "Don't get all happy just on account on winning this once. The next time we meet, I'll thrash you, your Pokemon, and all!"
Folly and turdy ran off when Rui heard the people that just entered the area approach.
"Oh, yuck! There's someone inside there!"
She felt one of them try to fiddle with the rope over the mouth of the sack she was in.
"Gah! This is tied good and tight! Can you believe those people? What a horrible thing to do!"
Rui then heard more footsteps.
"Move. I'll handle it."
She felt the man back away, so the trainer could undo the knot. Soon it loosened and was undone. Once she could see light, she immediately stood up and gasped. Her hands were still trapped behind her back and her legs were stuck together and she still had the tape clinging to the side of her face, but it was a luxury to get fresh air and sunlight.
"Phew! Thank goodness! I'm saved!" She saw the trainer in front of her. There was a woman to her left and a jogger to her right. She then looked at the city around her. "…Where is this? Where did those two bring me?"
"This is Phenac City, the opulet city of water." The woman said, peeling off the tape over, her wrists. As soon as her hands were free, Rui took the tape on her face off before peeling it from her boots. She winced as she slowly peeled the last of it off her bare upper legs.
"Ow, ow, ow! What just happened?"
The two bystanders turned to the trainer, who displayed nothing on his face.
"This person saved you from those thugs."
"The way he battled those goons, it was truly superb." The jogger said. "I wish you could've seen it."
Rui got a good look at this trainer. He had white hair, a blue jacket and a strange machine over his arm. She felt her heart warm up looking at him.
"Oh! Is that so? Thank you! And…Uh…You are?"
The trainer was reluctant to answer. "Wes."
"Oh! So, you're named Wes!" Rui said nervously. "I'm…my name's Rui! I'm sure glad I met you! I was in the neighboring town when those two grabbed me…"
Wes said nothing.
"Oh! Those guys, did they use peculiar Pokemon?"
Wes gave her a strange look. "What?"
"Peculiar?" the jogger asked. "No, they looked ordinary to me. What do you mean by peculiar Pokemon?"
"Oh…No…No, that's fine, then." Rui sighed.
The woman then turned to her. "Well, it's easy to see something's on your mind. You should go see our Mayor for his advice. He's a very kind person. I'm sure he'll be able to help you somehow. The mayor's house is near the fountain square past here. Go up the stairs from the square and it's on your left."
"The Mayor? Yes, that's true! The Mayor Might know something!"
Rui then turned to Wes. Ever since she mentioned peculiar Pokemon, she seemed to have gotten his attention. "Hey, Wes…I know I'm imposing, but I don't have anyone else that I could turn to. Please, can I get you to escort me for a while?"
"Alright." Wes replied. "They could come back if they want to cover their tracks."
Rui smiled gleefully. "Thank you, Wes! Eheh, I thought you might say that! If you're with me, Wes, it won't matter if those guy's come back again! Thank you! Thanks for joining me for a while!" she said bowing politely.
"Wow!" Jovi smiled. "That sounds like one of Jovi's bedtime stories with a prince and princess!"
Rui blushed at that comment. It did seem like a cliché story thinking about it.
"So, you've had a crush on him since?" Megg asked.
"I…don't know. I'm not sure if I just grew to him overtime or…if I felt that way from the start. I felt something by the time I found out he used to work for Snagum."
Megg's eyes widened. "Wes used to work for Team Snagum?!"
"Huh? Oh, I guess he never told anyone." Rui sighed. "After we met the mayor Wes went to take part of the colosseum, but it wasn't open. So, we left only to get ambushed by thee members of Team Snagum. They said Wes was their best Pokemon thief…the Snagger."
"Who's Snagum?" Jovi asked.
"They stole Pokemon for money. It was sometime after we defeated Cipher five years ago when Wes told me about his past. He had no memory of his parents. He grew up in the slums. One day he met these two stray Eevee that stayed by his side ever since. Then one day he saw team Snagum, who offered him a job. He took it, thinking he might earn a better living."
"How did you react?" Megg asked.
"Well, when I first was told by Snagum that he used to work with them…"
Rui turned to Wes who looked down. "No way! Is that true, Wes?"
The man clutched his fists. He didn't raise his head as he spoke. "Yes. Yes, it is."
He waited for Rui to react. But she didn't even gasp. "Oh, so it is true! That's a little shocking!"
"A little?" Meg asked. "You took that pretty well."
"Well…what can I say?" Rui smiled, "A guy that saved me from kidnappers can't be all bad. And like I told him after…"
Wes was about to walk away, when Rui grabbed his arm.
"Rui…?"
"It's okay. Wes, it doesn't matter to me who you are. After all, you're my gallant prince who rescued me when I was in trouble."
"Awww!" Megg smiled.
Rui blushed deeper. But she did feel good after sharing that.
Just then Aferd came in. "Phew. I can't believe how strong he's gotten."
"Hi Aferd!" Jovi smiled. "Where's Michael?"
"Downstairs. Said he had something to do before he can say his adventure is over."
Michael stood in the room where he obtained the Snag Machine. He looked at the table where he placed it. He simply stared at the machine, thinking back to the day he first put it on. All the Pokemon he snagged. His while journey.
"So that's it, huh?"
Michael was surprised to see Wes right behind him.
"Oh, hey Wes. Feeling better?"
"Yeah." He walked over next to Michael and stared at the machine. "For what it's worth, Krane couldn't have picked a better trainer to give that to."
"Thanks."
Wes looked at the concerned look on his face. "You're not convinced that it's over, are you?"
"You can tell?"
"After Rui and I purified all the Shadow Pokemon together, I was thinking the same thing. Even now I'm concerned. Even with Edvice and Nascour arrested, there were still his followers roaming about. Dakim, Venus, Ein…When I was rebuilding Cipher I tried to find them…but they might as well have been ghosts. But I still feel anxious about what they could be doing. After all Mirror B is still causing trouble."
Michael nodded. "And now we have more to worry about. Not so much Naps and Lovrina, but…"
"I'm not worried about Gorigan either." Wes replied. "But Snattle, Ardos, they're still out there."
"Yeah…what if they come after us? And thinking about what they did to you and Rui…what if they took Jovi or mom? What if we can't stop them?"
Wes put a hand on Michael's shoulder. "I wouldn't worry."
"Huh?"
"If there is one thing I learned from you, it's that no matter how bad things get…no matter what happens to me or you…there will always be someone who wants to make things right."
Michael looked up and smiled. "I guess you're right. I just hope when that someone comes around, I don't have to be his enemy."
"I know. But I'm glad I got to battle you. It's like…getting to know the brother I never had."
Michael rubbed the back of his head. "Heh, heh…thanks, Wes."
Wes took off his own Snag Machine and put it down next to Michael's. "When I stole this from Snagum, five years ago, it was to keep them from using it. I never imagined that it could do good. Perhaps the next person to wield it will know how to properly use it as well. Don't worry Michael. Even if we fall to darkness, there will always be a light for us to find."
Michael looked at the machines. "Yeah…"
Rui walked into the room. "Hey guys! What are you talking about?"
"Nothing." Wes said.
"Feeling well rested, Wes?" Rui asked.
"Yup."
"Sherles called. He said with all the Shadow Pokemon purified, we're relieved of our sentence."
"Say Wes…what will you do now?" Michael asked.
"Professor Krane offered me a position here in the lab."
Rui turned to him. "Are…you considering?"
"His work is pretty interesting. Maybe I can finally do Pokemon good like I always wanted to."
"Like you always have."
"They want you too."
Rui looked at Wes in shock. "What? Me? What good can I be? I don't even know what half the stuff I've seen here is."
"Me neither, and they keep me around." Michael smirked.
"You understand Pokemon better that most." Wes said. "And someone like you can let us know if we're about to cross a line. You can stop us from becoming another Cipher."
Rui looked down.
"So how about it?" Michael asked.
"I'll…stay with you Wes. Whatever choice you make, I'll be by your side."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll think about Krane's offer."
"Right. Anyway, come on! You're missing out on all the fun!"
"Alright, alright." Wes smiled as Rui guided him out of the room.
Michael turned around to exit as well. When he was in the doorway he glanced at his Snag Machine one last time with a smile.
"You were a partner to me for this adventure too. Thank you." As he left the door closed behind him.
Everyone was laughing and having the time of their lives.
There was silence as a familiar man entered the room. Rui was the first to recognize him. "Grandpa!"
"Ah, Rui! And Wes and Michael are here too?"
Both trainers turned to him.
"Hey, Eagun!" Michael waved.
"When did you get here?" Wes asked.
"Just now. I've been meaning to speak to you both." All eyes were on Eagun. "Wes. Michael. I was inspired by your battle exploits, you see. It made me want to have a battle with you. That being said, there are countless trainers who would be honored to battle with the two heroes of Orre. I therefore decided to take charge and organize a Colosseum event. Impressed?"
Everyone broke into murmurs.
"A Colosseum event?' Rui asked.
"Indeed. I'm sure that the trainers that have gathered at Orre Colosseum will be delighted to face you both. Please, we'd very much like you to come."
Wes stood up with a smirk on his face. "Interesting. I'm in."
"Me too!" Michael added. "Sounds like fun!"
"Good, good. Anyone else?"
"I'll join!" Rui smiled. "I'm a Trainer too after all!"
"I might as well play along." Dunking added.
"Me too!" Silva said, standing up.
Marcia got up next. "I don't battle, but this I've got to see!"
The rest of the ONBS kids got up as well.
"I hear ya!" Perr added. "This is something I want a front row seat to!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Secc asked. "Lead the way, Eagun!"
"Ho,ho,ho! Very good! Come with me!"
Jovi ran up to her mother. "Mommy! Jovi wants to watch too!"
"I suppose that's alright. Just be careful out there."
"Yay! Let's go big brother!"
Michael smiled and rose from his seat. "Yeah! Let's do this thing!"
"Right!" Rui smiled. "We'll-WAAAH!"
Everyone watched Wes, sweep her off her feet, with one arm behind her back and another under her thighs.
"Wes! What are you doing?!"
"Being your gallant prince." The man smiled carrying her out of the room.
Rui couldn't help but smile, even though her face went red again from the laughter in the room. "Wes! Everyone's watching!"
"Let them. Everyone knows already anyway."
As soon as they were out of the room Rui wrapped her arms around him and giggled. Wes held her closer. Things could not have been better.
Soon they were all on the desert sands. Eagun was in a hover car with Beluh. Dunking was in his own car with Silva. The ONBS kids were in one of their company's vans, with Perr driving. Wes was in his bike with Rui in the sidecar. Finally, Michael was on his scooter with Jovi clinging onto him.
"AAAAHH! Big brother, you're going too fast!"
"There's no such thing as too fast!"
"Want to tell my noisy passenger that?" Wes grinned looking over to Rui who was holding the sides of the sidecar, like she was afraid, she'd fall out.
"I think it's just a guy thing, Jovi!" the girl smirked.
"HEEEEEY!"
Everyone saw a pink and white bike approach. The driver was a girl with pink hair. A man with the same color hair was in the sidecar.
"Okay, so, maybe it's not just a guy thing." Rui muttered.
"Hey, it's Lovrina and Naps!" Michael smiled.
"Well, what a coincidence. Imagine seeing you here. This time I'm not losing though." The girl smirked.
"You two are taking part?" Wes asked.
"That's right." Naps smiled. "We're starting over as honest trainers."
Just then two more bikes came up.
"Yo, what's up!" the green-haired ridder grinned.
"Cail! Willie!" Rui smiled, before noticing the jogger holding onto the pink-haired ridder. "Dash, you're here to!"
"Yeah! I wanted to watch so these two offered me a ride."
"We were on the way, so we though we'd save him from jogging there!" Willie smiled. "I've been looking forward to battling you again Wes. Michael too!"
Megg looked out her window. "Hey, what's that?"
Everyone watched a red machine come into view, sliding across the sand. Michael recognized the robot shaped like a legendary Pokemon. "Robo Groudon? That can only mean…"
The pilot came into view. "Huh? Oh, it's you, Michael."
"Chobin!" Jovi smiled. "That robot looks cool!"
"What is that?" Lovrina asked.
"This is the new and improved Robo Groudon! Chobin has modified and upgraded it! Therefore, a rematch with Michael is very much desired! Chobin will not lose again! The new Robo Groudon is supreme!"
Just then another car caught up to them.
"Hey…isn't that Snattle?" Michael asked.
"What are you doing here?" Bitt asked.
"I haven't given up on my dream of becoming Oree's governor." The man replied. "Improving my skills against the greatest of it's trainers is the first step."
Then another bike came up.
"I was wondering when you'd pop up Gorigan." Wes grinned.
"I took your advice!" the man replied before turning to Michael with a grin. "You again! This time, I will crush you and pulverize you!"
"Bring it on!"
Then another truck approached. A team Snagum member was driving. The side hatch opened, showing Gonzap and Walkin.
"Hey, don't forget us!" Walkin grinned.
"You're here too?" Michael smirked.
"Ha! Thought we'd miss this?" Gonzap laughed. "This is Snagum's time to show Orre what it can do!"
"Is that so?" Wes asked.
"Wes. Heh. You know buddy? I think it's high time I admitted it…you were right about Cipher. Never should have joined up with them."
"We all underestimated them…"
"Well, that's old news! I'm looking forward to facing you and Michael here with everything I've got!"
A smile appeared on Wes's face. "So am I."
Then a Flygon descended near the bunch. A red-haired trainer was ridding it. "Oh, hello! I'm glad to see you all again."
Michael looked at the trainer with a surprised smile. "Eldes! You're here!"
"Indeed. Father took the full blame for everything, so my brother and I could go unpunished."
"Why does that sound familiar?" Rui asked, looking at Wes.
"Sweet! Looks like we can have that rematch!" Michael replied.
"This time, let's battle fair and square!"
"Looks, like we've got new Rivals to contend to." Wes smirked. "What do you say hero? Ready for our next adventure?"
"You know it!" Michael smiled.
Their destination came into view. "There it is." Eagun said. "Orre Colosseum."
"Amazing." Rui smiled. "It's bigger than any colosseum I've ever seen!" She then looked up at Wes. "This is a new start for me. As a trainer, and as my prince's love."
"A new chapter for all of us and Orre starts here!" Wes smiled.
Joiv held her brother tighter. "Oh, boy! Let's go big brother! Faster!"
"Now you're talking." Michael grinned. His scooter speeded on ahead of the others, with Wes close behind and the others following suit. Every one of them smiled as they all hurried over to the colosseum. Ready for true battles. Not as enemies. As fellow trainers. Michael held a fist up.
"Let's go guys! Onto the next adventure!"
The End.
This was a blast to go through. I once again thank everyone for the favorites, the follows and the reviews. I do hope you guy's aren't tired of me getting sidetracked from Fates of S.T.E.A.M. because guess what? Another idea got into my head. Don't worry, this is a much shorter one. In fact I'll probably upload the first part tomorrow, and update it daily. What's it about? Find out tomorrow. But other than that, I hope you enjoyed reading this from beginning to end and I am grateful for you doing so.
