And finally our characters butt heads! This is a bit of a doozy chapter with a bit of flavorful Orre history. It's obviously my own take on things, but I rather like the idea and so I think I'll stick with it. Read and review, and feel free to critique the living hell out of this, as with everything else. I'm working on my own writing flaws, such as actually getting to the point because I tend to ramble on and on, and character development because I have this (not contagious) disease called always-creates-Mary-Sues-ititis.

You'll see that Lee is changing a bit. He's meant to be a bit out there, and he's a bit odd, but you'll see why...eventually!

Chapter Ten: Landing

It was quiet.

Joe and Lee stood back-to-back.

"Is this…Orre?"

Lee nodded. He held his hands up to the sky and a glowing blue orb of light appeared in his palms. "This will light our way. Come with me."

"Lee? How do you…?"

"No questions. Just come."

And so Joe followed him.

The moon was bright in the sky. Joe personally had no idea where in the hell they were, but at the very least he knew that this wasn't Earth anymore, and that this was Orre…

"Hooooot!"

"What was that?" Joe hissed, jumping.

"Just a Noctowl. That's why I told you to follow me. They can be nasty if you disturb them in the middle of their moon-gazing," came a slightly impatient, but still soft, reply.

Joe suddenly stopped and stood still. "I don't get it. Why are you so all-knowing all of a sudden? Where'd that light come from? Who are you?"

Lee turned around and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Just trust me. I'll explain it to you when we're safe. Right now, we're being chased. You may not know it, but Legion and the One aren't the only ones that know we're here. I'm trying to get us away from them to someplace where we can rest and talk. I promise, I'll explain everything to you."

Then he was walking at a brisk pace again.

Joe figured that this was his friend talking. Determined not to piss off an already annoyed Noctowl, he followed.

"You know," Joe said in a thoughtful voice, "if Legion was going to send us here, why'd they splat us in this random middle-of-nowhere? We're in a desert, of all places."

"Orre is nothing but desert and wasteland. Not much life flourishes here. I'm getting us to the nearest town. Hopefully, there…we can meet who we're supposed to meet." Lee tapped his food on a worn rode. It had been nicely paved, but the asphalt was cracking and wearing away. It was clear that it had not been renovated in ages. "If we follow this old road, it should lead us to…to…" He frowned slightly. "I think this will take us to Pyrite Town."

"All right, whatever you say," said Joe.

"Don't worry. It'll get us someplace." Lee began to walk along the faded white paint that had divided the road into lanes. "Let's hurry. If we can make it to town by morning, we should be okay."

A strange thrill gripped Joe's body. The very air of this place was charged…but with what? A silhouette of a strange bird blocked the moon for a second, and then the glowing silver orb was visible again. It was not a warm, welcoming light. Quite to the contrary, it was cold and repugnant. Away from here, it seemed to whisper with every night wind that blew. An ominous foreboding was brooding within Joe's mind, yet he could not figure out why. Perhaps it was that his body knew what his mind had yet to realize. But what was it? He pondered for a long while as he followed Lee and the glowing light. He felt as if he knew this place. As if this place was familiar to him. Yet he did not know what this place was. He did not know which direction he could walk in to get to civilization. Why, then, did he feel as if he belonged? Everything about this world, Orre, ringed with past encounters. But he could not remember. And he knew, for certain, that he had never been here before. Your typical Earth-born human did not realize that other worlds existed out there. And Orre most certainly was not a planet.

What, then, was this place?

Joe pondered along the entire walk as night slowly melted away and the cold light was peeled away to reveal the blossoming petals of dawn. Lee extinguished the light, as it was no longer necessary in the face of a warm sun. And in the distance, a few small buildings could be seen.

"Ah, we're almost there. Pyrite Town," murmured Lee, breaking the silence.

They approached the city gates and saw a very odd-looking vehicle parked outside. It was a…one-wheeled motorcycle?!

"How on earth does that thing even move?" Joe exclaimed, wishing he could own something as cool as that.

"Hm. It appears to have engine and power beyond what we ever accomplished on Earth. Technology here isn't too shabby after all," Lee mused. "Anyway, let's go in. There's nothing to be accomplished standing around here trying to mentally take this thing apart. We'll just be sitting ducks for our hunters."

"Please make sure you explain this to me later," Joe replied as he followed Lee into the main town.

"I promised," came the cheerful response.

And this was Pyrite Town.

Very, very, very underwhelming.

And did he mention underwhelming?

This was pitiful!

The buildings looked like they were made out of scrap metal, which had been very clumsily welded together and would fall if a slight breeze blew against them. What sort of town was this? Every single person that walked the streets had a very mysterious and definitely shady aura to them. Joe couldn't trust anyone, nor did he want to talk to anyone. Lee was so conspicuous. He didn't even look strange. It was just everyone else that made Lee seem so different. So…innocent.

"Why are we here?" Joe whispered.

"Don't worry. It's not as bad as you think. It's just…Cipher…" Lee made a left at a small intersection. "Ah, here's the hotel."

"And I'm assuming you randomly have whatever Orre's currency is," Joe muttered.

"Why, yes." Lee handed the receptionist some foreign-looking coins and bills. "One night, please. Room for two."

"All right, here's your card. Room number is 100."

"Thank you." Lee tugged Joe's shirt sleeve. "This way." He pushed the card key into the door's slot and it swung open. Inside was a quaint little room that contradicted the rest of Pyrite. It had a very homely, comfortable, and cozy feel. There were, thankfully, two beds. "Here, sit down, and I'll ela—,"

"HEY! GET BACK HERE!"

Lee and Joe whirled around to face the window at the same time.

"What's that?" cried Joe.

Lee flung open the window and saw a girl dressed in bright red chasing a boy and a girl.

"GIVE ME BACK MY POKÉMON!"

"What on earth," Joe muttered, watching the girl chase the boy and his companion back and forth across the square. Following them were two cats, one pink and one black and yellow. "What kind of place is this?!"

"It's a world where people and Pokémon have formed bonds together and live in harmony with each other. At least…that's how it once was," Lee replied softly. "It's not exactly like that anymore. Not after the War."

"War? Pokémon? What is all of this? You said you'd explain."

"I said I would, but I have a feeling…oh, Joe, just trust me again, just one more time. Follow me." With urgency to his step, Lee swung open the door and swiftly walked down the hallway.

Not wanting to miss anything important, Joe followed.

"My…my Skiploom! Why did you steal her away from me?" the red girl hissed.

"Quiet Miss Leba," the boy replied coolly. "She is okay. And she is in safer hands here."

"I won her! I won her from the tournament in the colosseum! You just took away my prize!" Leba protested.

"She's…a Shadow Pokémon!" the boy's companion cried, her voice stretched thin with…pain?

"Nonsense. Give her back to me!"

"Didn't she try and attack you?" the girl rebutted.

"Yes, but that was because she was scared!" Leba screeched.

"No, it's because her mind and heart have been shut and her emotions have been erased from her! It's Cipher, that evil syndicate! They're transforming Pokémon into beasts to try and take over Orre! Why can't you realize that?" the girl said desperately.

"It's true," said Lee, stepping between the argument. Joe chose to stay back, baffled at Lee's actions.

And baffled at the strange aura that Lee was radiating. It was one of absolute authority…and gentle supremacy.

Leba stepped back. "Who are you?" she asked quietly.

"My name is Lee-anne," Lee replied, his voice gentle and timid once more.

The red-haired girl next to the boy gasped.

Joe took a closer look at her and gasped in unison. She looked exactly like Ruflorrin.

"So…my Skiploom…is suffering?" Leba looked down, ashamed. "Then…take care of her for me, Wes. Return her back to her Pokémon self. One of these days, come to visit me with her, okay? And…name her Hannah. After my baby sister. Good-bye."

"W-wait!" the boy, Wes, called. "Where is this colosseum?"

Leba spun around and a wry smile pulled at the corner of her cherry red lips. "It's right across the rickety bridge, Pyrite Crossing. Dingy old place, you can't possibly miss it. Goodbye, sweetheart." Then she exited the square.

"Thank you, Mister Lee!" said the girl gratefully. "My name is Rui!"

Joe's heart caught in his throat.

The girl, Rui, then waved to Joe. "Hello! Are you traveling with Mister Lee?"

He nodded. "Name's Joe."

"Joe…" Rui smiled contentedly. "Look, Wes, we have some new friends!"

"So…you're the girl that can see the Shadow Pokémon, among other impurities of the natural, untainted world," Lee said quietly, looking at her carefully.

Rui looked somewhat confused, but nodded. "Yes, I am."

Wes held Rui's arm closer to his side, staring dangerously at Lee. Lee didn't seem to notice and smiled in return. "Greetings, then, miss shifter."

"Shifter?"

"Ah…here I am, saying things I ought not to say. Forgive me for my slip of tongue." Lee pushed Joe towards them. "Whether you like it or not, we'd like to join you in your hunt for Cipher."

Wes narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think we'll just accept you right off the bat?"

"Oh, but," Rui whined, but Wes shook his head and she fell silent.

"Sorry, but we're not recruiting. We don't let 'friends' skip happily along with us. It's Orre, and if you knew anything about Orre, you'd know that you can't ever trust anyone. Thanks for the help, Lee-anne, but we'll be going now."

"Espiuuuu," purred the pink cat, and she rubbed her back across Joe's leg.

"Umbri, umbri!" the black and yellow cat meowed, rubbing Joe's other leg.

"Awww, they like him," said Rui fondly.

Wes snapped his fingers roughly and they stepped back, their large eyes sad.

Could cats actually be sad?!

Before Joe could look any closer, they turned tail and scampered after Wes, who was obviously their owner.

"So," Joe said, looking at Lee. "That worked. Let's go back, and why don't you explain to me properly what's going on?"

Lee looked rather disappointed. "Of course, Joe. Just as I promised."

When they were back in the room, Lee closed the curtains to the windows. The room became dimmer. "This is a world not unlike our own. Instead of pets, the humans here raise Pokémon. Ideally, wild Pokémon and tame Pokémon both can coexist on a friendly level… Some people keep Pokémon as pets… No, 'pets' is the wrong word. Pokémon understand us. Humans can understand them once they've bonded with them. They have emotions and they have complex thought processes that humans have. They can fall in love and they themselves will decide if they wish to remain loyal to a human or not. Unfortunately, that being said, Pokémon take a lot after their trainers or owners. If the trainer treats the Pokémon harshly, the Pokémon themselves will become evil. Pokémon battle is a very popular sport. In fact, it's practically the only notable sport, outside of Pokémon racing and the like. Battling deepens the bonds between Pokémon and trainer, and besides, the Pokémon battling enjoying the playful fun. It's when battling becomes serious, too serious, that Pokémon and trainers alike can be hurt—even killed. Pokémon and their trainers have been known to go to war before…and it was the War that ruined Orre. The War is the reason Orre is nothing but a ruinous wasteland where naught but the most hardened live."

Lee sat down on the bed across from Joe and took a deep breath before continuing. "From the ashes of the War, an organization was born. Known merely as Cipher's Lament, after the woman who is now only known as the Tears of Cipher, for her true name has been lost and is unspeakable, the organization originally started as an effort to rebuild Orre and restore it to its previous glory. But it couldn't be done…it was more than anyone could stand… There was corruption. And then, the ultimate corrupt bargain. A strange shadow, and to this day, no one knows just what—or who—it was, approached the old leaders of Cipher's Lament and offered infinite power in exchange for their souls. The offer was accepted, and Cipher's Lament became known as only Cipher, the syndicate hell-bent on conquering all of Orre and the worlds beyond. If Orre would never be what the woman, the Tears of Cipher, had dreamed of, then no one could have anything.

"This shadow extended its power to the hearts of Pokémon. By closing their hearts and minds and wiping them of any emotion and self-thought, the shadow transformed the Pokémon into war machines. Because of the expenses in developing practical technology to readily and reliably transform Pokémon into Shadow Pokémon, as they were later called, Cipher partnered with the ruffian band of Team Snagem, and Team Snagem became their source for experimental Pokémon. Ultimately, Team Snagem went on to develop the first portable Snag Machine, which had the ability to steal a Pokémon away from a trainer, even when within its own Poke ball, the storage device trainers use. Even now, Cipher is…still here…waiting for its ultimate chance to begin what it foretells to be the Second War, a war which Cipher will win to rebuild a new society that will never war again.

"It is said that the woman, the Tears of Cipher, died of grief and of a broken heart. She begged with the leaders of Cipher's Lament to reject the offer and to resume their idealistic goals, which she so wholeheartedly believed in. But ultimately she was shunned and locked away in an asylum to waste away. It is for that reason that she became known as the Tears of Cipher, because she shed the tears that the leader should have shed for his own wrongs, yet he reveled in them while she felt the horrible, endless guilt and grief and died because of it."

"So this woman loved him, then," murmured Joe.

"Perhaps she did. It is a tragic story, and it is called the Myth of Tears. It's a regular children's story, told to remind them of Orre's tragic past and of mistakes that must never be repeated."

"So then how come no one seems to know about Cipher?"

"Because that's what it is—a myth. No one knows what's true and what's false," explained Lee. "Cipher is alive though…only they possess the knowledge of the Shadow Pokémon. I…I don't understand… Mere humans could not do this. What sort of supernatural shadow is behind them now? What sort of goal do they truly have? They don't just want to rebuild a new Orre…they want to rip apart this treacherous order, this ruined universe…and recreate…a New Order." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Everyone seems to think that these new Shadow Pokémon are a new technology—a new subspecies of Pokémon that's much stronger and faster. But…no one…no one knows… I suppose it's only normal. If I were the average passerby, I wouldn't be contemplating all this mythological stuff. I'd see the Shadow Pokémon as cool, too."

Lee looked at the digital clock on the table between the two beds. "It's evening now. I don't suppose you'd want to go sleep?"

"Yeah, if I had a spare change of clothes and a toothbrush and some toothpaste," was Joe's sarcastic reply. Realizing his tactlessness, he quickly doubled back and said, as genuinely as he could, "Thank you for the information. Really."

Lee smiled softly.

It was then that Joe ventured to ask, "So, then, Lee, who are you exactly?"

"I'm whatever you want me to be," was Lee's quiet reply. "I…I am here…because I was allowed to live through what ought to have been my death. I am not supposed to be here. Yet I am here. Who am I? I think you know well enough."

Joe sifted through his memories and was startled to find that they were far and few between. He remembered landing in this place. He remembered that Lee was his friend since they were…little. He remembered meeting an angel named Ruflorrin. He remembered his nightmares of blood and of the yellow-haired man. But beyond that, there were no memories. Everything about the world he had come from—for he knew he was not from Orre—had been wiped away and hidden from him.

Evidently Lee was good at reading faces, or Joe had had an expression on his face impossible to misunderstand, for Lee sat down next to him and rested his head on Joe's shoulder. "In time, Joe. Let go of yourself, and you will find yourself again in time… Good night, Joerfin Windwaker."

Joerfin.

It was the same name that Ruflorrin had called him by. There had to be a relation…there just had to be!

There was a knock on the door. Joe got up instinctively to answer it and only then did he remember that Lee had been leaning on him.

Lee opened one tired eye and gave him a wry smile. "Just like you. Don't worry about me."

Grimacing, Joe turned the doorknob and swung the door open.

It was Rui.

"Please, I need your help," Rui pleaded. Her hair was in disarray and tumbled messily over her shoulders. Grime and soot clung to her skin and there were tears and stains on her normally kempt clothes. "Wes…Wes is in trouble!"

"Of course," Joe heard himself say. He went to where Lee was resting and tapped him on the shoulder. "Lee, Rui needs help."

"…Long ago…you would have turned her away…" Lee slowly got to his feet. "You are changing."

Joe ignored his nonsense and turned back to face Rui. "What happened?"

Rui pointed down the hallway. "Our room's that way. We were just taking a break to have some dinner, you know. Afterwards, Wes went out to go collect the rest of the Shadow Poke—oh, you don't know what Shadow Pokémon are, do you?"

"Yes, we do," Lee replied.

"Oh!" Rui appeared quite surprised, but she soon resumed speaking in her frantic manner. "Wes was going to get the rest of them and save them so we can purify them later, you know, but there was this strange man whose face was covered, he challenged Wes to a Pokémon battle and won in one turn! It was frightening…and instead of just taking the prize money, the strange man punched him in the nose, knocked him out cold…and dragged him somewhere…across the square… Wes is in trouble!"

Part of Joe yearned to leave Wes wherever he was and take Rui for himself. He gritted his teeth in frustration. This was the perfect time to go innocently with Rui, hide Wes somewhere, tell Rui that Wes was dead or missing, and then have the girl all for his own. She was beautiful, he thought.

I can't believe it. Wes, that asshole, running around and treating Lee like that, and now we have to go rescue him!

"Lead the way," said Lee. "Do you have any Pokémon with you?"

"I have Sunny and Stellaluna. They escaped their Poke balls just in time. They know Wes's scent…they should be able to track him down," Rui replied. "I'm nervous though…what if it doesn't work?"

"It will. Don't worry."

Rui smiled. "Thanks, Lee!"

Joe felt a rush of jealousy.

They exited the Pyrite Grand Hotel and into the square, where several trainers were battling it out with their Pokémon. They had very shady auras about them. Joe didn't trust any of them and thought that the sooner they could leave this town, the better. If they could find anywhere else, that was.

The two cats, Sunny and Stellaluna, were swift to plant their noses on the ground and follow Wes's apparent scent. They led Rui, Lee, and Joe on a windy path through the square and across a very rickety bridge to a large, falling-apart building with a half-in-shambles roof and tin patches over weaknesses in the eroding brick. A small entrance was in front of them, consisting of a door hanging on one hinge.

"It's this building," whispered Rui. "And the sign…PYRITE COLOSSEUM. I see."

"What's a Colosseum?" asked Joe.

"It's a place where battling tournaments are held. I wonder what Wes would be doing here?" Rui ran inside, following the two cats. Joe and Lee were quick to enter as well.

The inside of the building was just as dilapidated, if not more, than the exterior. There was one shabby desk with a lady dressed in a miniskirt, stilettos, and a tank top with a ripped apart middle. At the slightest breeze, it lifted aside and rendered her virtually half-naked. Behind her was a small gate, currently closed, and to her right—Joe's left—was a quirky little contraption with six round indentations and a computer attached.

"That's a Healing Machine. Orre doesn't have any actual Pokémon Center facilities like other regions do, so trainers have to self-heal their Pokémon. It's free to use as long as one scans their trainer card. Wes doesn't have one…but I do, so I just scan it for him," explained Rui before Joe could ask the question.

"Well hello boys!" the skimpily-dressed lady called, shedding her tank top altogether and letting it drift to the floor. She put her hands on her hips and leaned forward, causing her breasts to wobble dramatically. Her heavily made-up eyes blinked twice and she pursed together her crimson lips. "I'm Kinjal, and I'd be more than happy to register you two for a tournament…except that a tournament's already in session! But if you wait, it'll end and you can enter, and possibly win a special Pokémon as a prize! Do you have any Poke? The registration fee is a low, low 50 Poke! But oh! If you don't have any money, you can go in for free…as long as you pleasure me up a bit to persuade me!"

Joe stared at the Healing Machine the entire time the lady, Kinjal, was making her flamboyant speech. From the corner of his vision, he saw a heavily muscled man wearing nothing but biking shorts walk up to her and whisper in her ear. This was followed by giggles, a placing of the 'NOT HERE WILL RETURN' sign on the desk, and footsteps as the two left the main area through a door that lead to who-knows-where.

It was then that Joe noticed that Rui was close to tears. "What is this place?" she cried. "I thought…I thought…Pyrite's a mining town…so of course it's shabby, but wh-what kind of people do they let w-work here?"

Joe immediately put an arm around her, partly to shield her from any ill-meaning stares, partly because he wondered what her reaction would be. To his surprise, Rui didn't pull away and instead sniffed glumly into his shoulder. "S-Sunny and Stell-Stellaluna went to go look for a scent trail…perhaps we'll be able to f-find Wes." Joe then allowed his arms to drop, feeling that Rui was better. Rui gave him a faltering smile and sat in a chair.

And Kinjal was back, arm around the man's shoulder, laughing the whole time. The man grunted happily, slapped her breasts, and then as she opened the gate, entered through into the Colosseum. "You boys ready to enter yet?" she called, her voice sweet.

"No," Lee replied, looking up at the roof (What roof?).

"Well let me know when. You two both look young and fresh!"

Joe had to resist the urge to punch her.

"Espiuuu!"

Rui cried out in glee and allowed the two cats spots on her lap. "Sunny! Stellaluna! You're back and you're safe!"

"Umbri umbri!" Stellaluna purred.

"Oh, thank you so much!" Rui got up and laughed. "Joe, Lee, come on!"

They exited the Colosseum (Kinjal waved bye and called out to them, "Come again boys, next time with more testosterone!") and veered to the left towards a small, desolate warehouse that resembled a weathered outhouse more than a warehouse.

Rui pressed her ear against the keyhole while Joe and Lee stood close to the door. Voices could be heard.

"Give me yer Pokémon, ya ruffian, and I'll pay ye a grand sum!"

"No, thank you, sir, my Pokémon are my possessions."

"No one says no to me! Give me yer Pokémon! I'll ask ye one more time, then yore sunk!"

"Sink me then."

Rui kicked at the wood so hard that the door smashed inwards, off its rusty hinges. "That's enough, mystery man! Let Wes go!"

The man, his face still covered by his hood, faced Rui. "How'd ye find me, ye pretty virgin girl?"

"You leave quite the stench, mystery man," Rui replied hotly. "And Espeon and Umbreon were more than smart enough to follow it! Not let Wes go, or I'll send them on you!"

"Send 'em on me, even Wes 'ere couldn't be me, not even with his Shadow team. Flaaffy and Noctowl, wasn't it? They packed the lightest punch I've ever seen!"

"Well, then, who are you, to be such an elite battler?" Joe butted in.

"I am the great…Sir Dellaham! I am the Sir who is too Sir to show his face to his inferiors! Now, give me yer Pokémon, boy!"

"No one's giving anyone's Pokémon to you!" Joe rushed forward and kneed this Sir Dellaham as hard as he could right between the legs.

The resulting howl of agony was almost music to his ears. He left the man curled up on the ground and purple in the face, and hooked his arms underneath Wes's armpits and helped him up. "You okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Wes replied grumpily. "Just got my nose bashed in. Ugh." He wiped his nose with the back of his hand, adding to what was already a thick layer of caked blood.

"Oh, you're okay!" cried Rui. "We found you!"

"Ah…so it was you who enlisted the two of them." Wes looked back at Joe and Lee. "I suppose I should thank you, huh? Guess I will."

"Our request to join you has yet to expire," Lee reminded him.

"I'd be rude to say no," Wes muttered. "But I will say that there's more Shadow Pokémon than what I've already got. Plus, we're leaving this town soon. You sure you wanna come with me and Rui?"

"Yes. Very sure." Lee smiled. "I can see…I can see the future."

Wes narrowed his eyes.

"Ah…never mind me." Lee withdrew from his pants pocket a miniature Poke ball. "There my tongue goes again, saying things it shouldn't… here, Wes, take this Poke ball with you. You may borrow it for the upcoming Colosseum match."

"Colosseum match?" Wes inquired suspiciously.

"Yes. In order to find out where the Shadow Pokémon are coming from."

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to find out…"

"But, Wes, it's late!" cried Rui in protest. "And your nose!"

"Ah, right. We'll enter a tournament first thing in the morning. Do you two need a room?"

"Ah, no, we've already got one," Joe replied casually, trying to get Wes to forget Lee's…strangeness.

"All right. Meet us in front of the Colosseum tomorrow at 11 AM. That's when the first tournament's going to be held. I checked the hotel's Colosseum schedule, and that's what it is." They quickly left back to the hotel.

"Guess we'd better get going too," said Lee. And so they followed.