Trainers, what is the purpose of Winter's sweat?
a) It is a poisonous deterrent.
b) It shows he's stressed out.
c) It is a sign of him defending a friend.
Wes opened the door to Cipher's Shadow Pokémon Laboratory with the key he had found. He smirked.
"Rui, I think it's about time I let loose."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm using the modifications. You keep an eye out for Shadow Pokémon."
Giving absolutely zero regard for the lab's security, Wes smashed down every door he came across. Along the way, peons attempted to stop him, only to be doomed to failure. He Snagged the Shadow Aipom, Murkrow, Ariados, Forretress, Granbull and Vibrava that the laboratory offered. He made it to the lab's basement.
"So, you've made it this far, defeating Peons and walls alike. You are an interesting trainer, to say the least."
"…Ein. I remember you."
"Really? I don't believe we've met."
"When you made the Shuckle a Shadow. I saw you do the entire thing. Just thinking about makes me want to… *RETCH*."
"Hey! I just mopped that floor!"
"Did you stop to think about what you were doing to those Pokémon? Or the Trainers you stole them from?"
"Idealistic girl. Pokémon are for the exclusive use of Cipher, we all know this…"
"Hah… Hah… RARGH!"
"Rui, it'd be more effective if I punched him in the face. Besides…"
CIPHER ADMIN EIN would like to battle!
CIPHER ADMIN EIN sent out GOLBAT and HUNTAIL!
Go! AMPHAROS and Summer!
Ein opened the fight using a Rain Dance. Ampharos capitalised on this decision by using Thunder on Huntail, while Summer used a Psybeam on the Golbat.
"Drat!"
CIPHER ADMIN EIN sent out ALTARIA and LANTURN!
Altaria used an Ice Beam on Ampharos, freezing it. Lanturn attempted a Hydro Pump on Summer, but Summer was too nimble. She opted to Psybeam the Lanturn.
Go! SNEASEL!
Sneasel used an Icy Wind in order to defeat the Altaria. Grinning sadistically, it took the time to steal the KO from Summer in the same turn.
"Is that even legal?" Everyone asked.
CIPHER ADMIN EIN sent out RAIKOU!
Rui's eyes widened. Mostly due to instinct: she suspected the Raikou. Said Raikou used Thunder on both Sneasel and Summer, knocking out the former…
"Hey! Keep your paws off my girlfriend!"
And triggering Winter's long-dormant defences. Sweating, he let his rings glow, and sent his sweat onto the Raikou.
RAIKOU is badly poisoned!
Summer and Winter ran parallel to the Raikou, and used an attack apiece. Wes hurriedly threw a Snag Ball, managing to successfully Snag the Shadow.
WES defeated CIPHER ADMIN EIN!
"You'll live to regret acting against Cipher, Wes… one day, you'll regret it…"
Wes and Rui escaped the lab, and were about to leave the area to return to Agate, but were intercepted by… Wes.
"Who… who are you?"
"Might I ask you the same question?"
Both Wes circled each other cautiously, before throwing a punch. The other perfectly blocked it with their own.
"Wes? What's going on?"
"Cipher's given somebody my identity. And that gunk."
"What are we going to do?"
"We'll battle to decide which of us is the real Wes!" The other Wes said.
"…Well, just hurry up and do it already! This two of you thing is really giving me a headache!"
SHADY GUY WES would like to battle!
SHADY GUY WES sent out ARMALDO and HOUNDOOM!
Go! SUICUNE and FERALIGATOR!
Rui's eyes widened.
"Wes, there's a Shadow- oh. You know, fake Wes, it might have been a good idea to research what Pokémon Wes uses."
"…Hindsight is a harsh mistress, cutie. That, and you."
Both Suicune and Feraligator had used Surf, defeating both the Armaldo and the Houndoom.
SHADY GUY WES sent out MILOTIC and MANECTRIC!
Manectric electrocuted the Suicune with a Thunderbolt, dealing half damage or so. This necessitated that Milotic finish the job with DragonBreath, giving Feraligator clearance to Earthquake the pair of them.
SHADY GUY WES sent out GYARADOS!
Two Water types appeared on the opposite field.
Go! MEGANIUM!
Perfect bait for a Razor Leaf. Feraligator cleaned up with a Slash.
SHADY GUY WES sent out TOGETIC!
Rui's eyes widened.
"Wes… I want that thing! Oh, it's so adorable!"
The real Wes gave a nice chuckle, before throwing over a ball, and easily Snagging the Togetic.
WES defeated SHADY GUY WES!
The duplicate fled, leaving behind an innocuous looking package. Wes knelt down, and unwrapped it. He picked up the item… it was a dress.
"Wait, Wes! That was my dress!"
"Why would Cipher be carrying around an old dress of yours?"
"Remember what I said when I first met you? When Folly and Trudly stole this thing? I mentioned that this dress made their Shadow Makuhita go haywire."
"…In which case, it might be a good idea for you to put that back on." Rui nodded, and quickly changed. She gave a little experimental twirl.
"Yep, you look cute in that."
"Thanks, buddy. Now… where is Cipher now?"
The correct answer is a) It is a poisonous deterrent. I'm drawing from Pokedex entries now!
Next time, on Shadow Pokemon Plan, we battle some old foes.