"Ah you must be travelers!" Exclaimed the mayor. "Welcome to Phenac City,
my name is Es Cade, the mayor."

Es Cade moved his puffy body off of his lavish jewel embroided chair and
walked over to Wes and Rui.

"This guy's rich!" Thought Wes.

"Now, is there anything I can assist you with?" Asked Es Cade.

"Um..er.." Rui nervously said.

"Oh? What may I do for a pretty young lady like you?" Es Cade asked.

Rui used all her will power to say, "I.. I saw it!"

Wes looked at her. "Saw it?" He thought. "Saw what?"

Es Cade cheerfully replied, "Saw it? What did you see"?

"I, I saw a Pokemon that gave off a black aura," Rui said. It was like a
fighting machine, and it attacked people!"

Wes couldn't believe what he was hearing. "A Pokemon that was hurting people?"
replied Wes.

"O-o-oh my!" Es Cade said. "That sounds terrifying! Now, if that were true, that would
be truly frightening. But that sounds a little hard to believe."

Rui immediately replied, "But it's true! I saw a Pokemon like that! And because of that,
I was made prisoner of very frightening men, until a very little while ago."

Wes started to feel pity for Rui. "She was kidnapped for witnessing something like that?"
he wondered. "Why?"

Es Cade immediately changed his happy demeanor. "Hmm.. I see," he said. "I will order an
investigation at once."

Rui looked in awe and wonder at Es Cade. "Really, you will?" Rui asked. "Thank you Mr. Mayor!"

Es Cade simply shook his head and smiled. "Oh no no," he said. "There is no need for thanks. We
must not allow criminals to do whatever they want, especially if they're endangering a pretty
lady like you."

Wes looked at the man with curiousity. "This guy seems off somehow," Wes thought.

"Although, I do ask for some time. I will get back to you on this matter with some useful
information soon. In the meantime, why not enjoy the scenery of our beloved Phenac City?
I'm sure you're bound to find many attractions here!"

Rui exclaimed, "Alright, let's go Wes!"

Wes let out a more quiet sign of boredom, and said, "Yeah let's go."

As they left, Es Cade went back to his desk. He had a very worried look on his face.

"I wonder what will happen to this city after all of this is over," Es Cade thought.

================================================================================================

Outside the mayor's house:

"Remember Rui, I still have to do my errands," Wes said. "I need go to the market and stock on some food."

Rui replied, "Oh alright Wes. I want to enjoy the city though."

Wes looked at her and rudely said, "I'm not forcing you to come with me."

As Wes went to the market, Rui followed him. "I know you aren't making me Wes, but I need you to escort me for a little
longer", she said.

"Whatever, we can see the scenery after I'm done doing my errands," Wes said in an irritating way.

Wes went to the Poke Mart, and bought many foods and many water bottles. Right before he exited the store, he saw poke balls for sale.

"Hmm," Wes thought. "I might need these when I leave Orre." Wes took 20 poke balls, and left the store. Rui followed behind him.

"Well, I'm done with everything," Wes said. "I guess we can go-"

Suddenly, Wes stopped talking. He becomes paralyzed in fear, for himself, and even Rui. "No way," Wes said.

Rui looking at what was in front of Wes said, "Wes what's wrong?"

Three Team Snagem men were right in front of Wes. They all looked very angry and distraught.

"Wes we finally found you, you filthy double-crossing traitor!" said one grunt.

Another grunt walked in front of the one who talked. It was Wakin. Wes stared at him, and couldn't believe his eyes.
"How did they find me?" Wes thought. "How..."

Wakin angrily said, "wreaking the hideout wasn't good enough for you!? So you took the snag machine for yourself? You've got some nerve!"

"Heh, Wakin you should have seen your face after I blew up the hideout," Wes said. "It was well worth detonating that mud hole."

Wakin shot an angry look at Wes, but Wes just kept smiling at him.

Rui looked at them in a concerned manner. "Who are these people?" She asked. "Huh? Wait, these guys are Team Snagem. What do they mean by traitor? Wes... you mean..?"

Rui sadly looked at Wes, but Wes didn't meet her glance, and looked away. He stopped smiling instantly, and looked down at the ground.

The third grunt looked at Rui, and happily said, "That's right pretty lady! He's from Team Snagem, just like us!

The second grunt chimed in, "But he's no ordinary member. He's a snagger, and he was considered the best in our organization at stealing
others Pokemon away!"

"Well, he 'was' good," Wakin remarked.

"N-no, this can't be true!" Rui cried. "Wes, is this the truth?"

There was an awkward silence, and Wes had a saddened look on his face.

"Yes it is," Wes weakly replied.

Rui put her hands over her mouth in disbelief, and started to cry. The other grunts started to laugh like crazy, and Wes continued to remain silent.
Finally, Wakin said, "Wes, it's now time you gave us back our snag machine that you took from us. We would like to put it to great use."

Wes started to speak, and said, "No. I'm not letting you guys get this." Wes then put his hand on the snag machine fitted on his left shoulder and closed his eyes."I'm tired of you guys using this thing to wreak havoc for other people!"

Rui stopped crying, and stared at the snag machine. "Snag machine?" She said. "Wes, do you really have something like that?"

The second Team Snagem grunt snickered. "That machine allows anyone to steal Pokemon from other people, it is the most advanced piece of tech
that Silphs Co. in Kanto could produce for us!"

Wakin immediately retorted, "Stop talking you blabber mouth!" "We were given strict orders not to divulge that-

Rui walked over to Wes and softly said, "I see now Wes. So that's why these creeps are after you."

Wes looked back at Rui in disbelief. "Wait, why isn't she afraid of me?" Wes thought. "She just found out that I was apart of a criminal organization!"

Wakin angrily hollered, "Creeps!? How are we- ergh this isn't getting us anywhere! If you're not willing to cooperate we'll have to take it by force!"

Wakin sent out a Corphish and Koffing.

Wes slyly smiled replied, "Oh I get to beat you up again Wakin? I guess we could repeat history for the sake of entertainment."

Rui nervously looked at Wakin's Pokemon. "Wes, be careful!" She warned him.

"Oh, don't worry, this'll take a second!" Replied Wes. "Go, Umbreon and Espeon!"

Both Pokemon let out a battle purr, and proceeded to fight without Wes's command. Espeon used Confusion on both opponents and Umbreon used Secret Power all in one blow to destroy Corphish and Koffing.

Wakin stared at Wes in anger and disbelief. "How... Wha..." Wakin could not believe what had happened.

Rui was also shocked, "How did your Pokemon do that?!" She asked.

Wes smiled, and looked back at her saying, "I've faced Wakin so many times, my Pokemon have already memorized how to beat him."

The other Snagem grunts looked afraid of Wes, but Wakin had a very angry look. "Gah, blast you Wes!" He said. "We'll get that snag machine back, just
you wait!"

The members of Team Snagem ran away. Wes looked down at the ground, and Rui eventually said, "So, Wes you're from Team Snagem."

Wes looked up, and Rui could see he had a saddened look. "Rui, do you hate me?" Wes asked. "I'm a terrible person, right?"

Rui replied, "No you're wrong. You-

Wes immediately shot a look at Rui. "How can you say that?! I've stolen countless Pokemon, become a top member in a criminal organization, and hurt so
many people!" He cried out. "I'm a terrible person, how could you not hate me?"

Rui looked back at Wes. "You're not a terrible person. I get it Wes, you did all those terrible things, but it's not like you wanted to right?"

Wes had an even more saddened look, and looked away from Rui.

"How could someone so terrible as you say you are save me from those evil thugs?" She said. "If you are this terrible person that you're describing, than I've never met that Wes before. The only Wes I know is the one who helped me when I was kidnapped, and escorted me to the mayor for help.

Wes couldn't believe what he was hearing. He confusingly looked at Rui in shock. "You're serious...?" Wes asked.

Rui replied quickly, "Yes of course! I mean it!"

There was a silence. "She doesn't hate me?" Wes thought. "How can that be-"

Suddenly, something caught Wes's eye.

"Who... wait... that's.." Wes began to say.

Rui looked at Wes in confusion. "What is it?" She asked.

It was the mayor's house. Two boys appeared to be going inside the house.

"It's those guys who kidnapped you!" Wes said. "They're going inside the mayor's house!"

"Oh no!" Rui cried out.

Trudly and Folly grinned as they were about to open the door. "Man I can't wait to see what our reward will be from boss," Trudly said.

Folly put his hand on the door, and said, "He'll definitely award us. We found the snag machine! It was on that guy's arm!"

Ah, this was rather long, but ultimately substantial in terms of character development for Wes and Rui. Hoped you guys enjoyed it!