Wes and Rui took their leave of the colosseum and they spotted a strange man standing at the other side of the bridge. He wore a blue jumpsuit and an orange scarf. He wore a blue helmet with a visor, same as the three men back in Phenac City.
"Hi, there! You must be the superb Trainer who has emerged triumphantly in our latest battle challenge," the man said.
"I was told that there's a special Pokémon that's given to the winner of the colosseum challenge, right?" Wes asked.
"You heard right. Miror B wishes you to have it as a gorgeous prize. Follow me," the man said, walking. Wes and Rui followed him to Miror B's building and walked in. Standing at the counter is a woman wearing the same kind of outfit, but it's purple. "Right, I'm back with our latest challenge champion. Let's present our lucky winner with a Shadow Pokémon and watch chaos unleashed." He laughed. The woman looked right at him.
"Oh, nice one. Our new champ is quite the appealing charmer," the woman said in a flirting tone.
"It makes a nice change from the parade of macho musclemen..." The man paused. "Wait! This isn't happening!" The woman dropped her flirting mood and glared right at him.
"This guy..." The woman paused. "He's that Wes guy that Miror B'd been carrying on about!" The woman exclaimed. He gasped when he realized she was right.
"Wh-What? That same guy who messed with us in Phenac City?" The man exclaimed.
"Took you chumps long enough to figure it out. I mean, who were you expecting, Mickey Mouse?" Wes asked in a taunting manner.
"Gaaah! I didn't know that when I let him in here! I'll boot you back out!" The man said.
"You're welcome to try," Wes said, accepting the challenge. The man took out two of his Pokéballs and threw them.
"Yanma and Pineco! Go!" The man shouted. Out came a Yanma and a Pineco. Wes took out two Pokéballs and threw them.
"Slugma and Flaaffy! Go!" Wes called out. Rui looked right at Yanma and she gasped.
"Wes! That Yanma is a Shadow Pokémon!" Rui warned.
"Gotcha," Wes said as he nodded.
"Yanma! Use Shadow Blitz! Pineco! Use Rapid Spin!" The man ordered. Yanma and Pineco lauched their attacks at Slugma and Flaaffy.
"Slugma! Use Shadow Rush! Flaaffy! Use Shadow Blitz!" Wes ordered. Slugma and Flaaffy attacked Yanma and Pineco. The Shadow Pokemon under Wes's control has dealt heavy damage on Pineco. He called his Pineco back after it was beaten and he took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Nincada! I choose you!" The man shouted. His Pokéball opened and his Nincada emerged from inside. Yanma! Shadow Blitz again! Nincada! Use Fury Swipes!" The man ordered. Yanma came at Flaaffy with a Shadow Blitz.
"Slugma! Use Shadow Rush!" Wes ordered. Slugma came at Yanma and lands a hit with a Shadow Rush. "Flaaffy! Use Shadow Blitz!" Flaaffy rushed at Nincada and lands a hit with Shadow Blitz, knocking it out. The man called his Nincada back and he took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"You're up, Surskit!" The man called out. His Pokéball opened and his Surskit emerged from inside. "Use Signal Beam!" Surskit fired a Signal Beam.
"Flaaffy! Use Shadow Blitz!" Wes called out. Flaaffy lands a Shadow Blitz onto Surskit. Wes called Slugma back and he threw it. "You're up, Skiploom!" His Pokéball opened and Skiploom emerged from inside. "Use Sleep Powder!" Skiploom sprinkles a blue sparkling powder on Yanma, making fall asleep. Wes took out a Pokéball and converted it into a Snag Ball. He threw it at Yanma, making it flow inside. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Wes sends Yanma's Pokéball over to his ride.
"You snagged my Yanma! You're gonna pay for that! Surskit! Use Signal Beam again!" The man ordered.
"Thunder Shock!" Wes ordered. Flaaffy unleashed a Thunder Shock, shocking Surskit and ending the battle. He called back his Surskit and he growled.
"It's no surprise now how you managed to win the tournament," the man said. It's useless! I don't stand a chance of winning!"
"Now, hold on! You're the one who brought him here!" The woman exclaimed.
The man and woman have retreated from the counter, leaving Wes and Rui alone. Hearing the commotion from outside, Duking Marcia, and a couple of kids came inside.
"Oh! You're safe! I heard you entered this building. It had me worried," Duking said. Wes and Rui turned to face them.
"Duking! This is where they were giving Shadow Pokémon to the winners of the battle challenges!" Rui said. Duking, Marcia, and the kids gasped at this bit of news.
"Shadow Pokémon? Those ferocious Pokémon that even attack people?!" Duking exclaimed.
"Yes! They're giving away Shadow Pokémon to thugs for some reason. It doesn't look good," Rui said.
"And since we found out what they're up to, Miror B won't be taking it laying down," Wes said. Duking growled in anger.
"They were using the colosseum to do that?!" Duking exclaimed in anger. Marcia then started to speak up.
"Big lady! My papa..." Marcia paused. "Papa's Pokémon was taken away by Miror B as a prisoner!" Marcia said. Rui gasped in shock.
"He did what?! Miror B used a dirty move like that?" Rui asked.
"It's papa's Plusle! I'm so worried that they might be mean to it..." Marcia paused.
"Being mean to Plusle is one thing, but in the worse case scenario, they could turn Plusle into a Shadow Pokémon," Wes stated.
"It's true, and it's humiliating. But with Plusle in their filthy hands, my own hands are tied..." Duking said.
"Is that why Silva came down on you like that?" Wes asked.
"Yes. Silva tried to convince me to fight back against Miror B, but he said he was going to turn Plusle into a Shadow Pokémon if I refused. So I had no choice but to allow them to do whatever they wanted," Duking. Rui stepped up.
"He's not getting away with this! That rotten Miror B!" Rui growled. "But we're here now! We'll get Plusle back for you! Right, Wes?" Wes smiled.
"Yes, we will. Miror B and those other clowns won't get away with this, and we'll thrash those jokers before they know what hits them," Wes said. Rui giggled.
"I know I can always count on you, Wes!" Rui said. This causes Wes to blush a bit. He did his best to hide it. Rui turned to Duking and the kids. "Duking, it's dangerous inside this building. You've got to get everyone out to safety." Duking smiled at that.
"Thanks for everything..." Duking said, touched. "I have to depend on you. I have no choice. Be careful always! Miror B might look like a clown, but his battling is all business!" Duking and the kids exits the building as Wes and Rui are getting started on their mission.
"Okay, let's go," Wes said. He noticed a file resting on the counter. "What's this?"
"It looks like some kind of file," Rui said. Wes opened it and began to read its contents.
Reverse Mode
Shadow Pokémon, perhaps because of their own overwhelming power, may behave abnormally at times.
They may engage in such behavior as ignoring orders, even turning on their own Trainers in battle. This, I have named Reverse Mode.
Reverse Mode unfortunately cannot increase a Shadow Pokémon's Shadow moves, but it uses only Shadow moves, which results in suffering some recoil damage in the process. It also prevents the use of items to recover a Pokémon from damage and status conditions it receives from battle.
Reverse Mode is easily dispelled. Simply call the Pokémon by name. However, this method has a major drawback.
Calling the Shadow Pokémon's name causes the closed door of its heart to loosen and even open. Further research is urgently needed.
Wes closed the file.
"That explains a lot," Wes said.
"Yes. But the good news is, we know the doors to the hearts of the Shadow Pokémon are closer to opening," Rui said.
"You're right, Rui, but we can look more into it after we put a stop to Miror B's operations," Wes said.
With that said, Wes and Rui did some investigating in the building, searching for any signs of Miror B. Wes has taken out his Pokémon Box and he exchanged Slugma, Quagsire, Flaaffy, and Skiploom for Yanma, Furret, Togetic, and Noctowl.
They explored the ground level, searching for a sign of an entrance to Miror B's lair. They came to a shut door. They found that they can't get to it and they came across an elevator with a girl standing guard.
"Too bad for you! This elevator is off-limits!" The girl said. She took two Pokéballs and threw them. "Phanpy, Trapinch! Go!" Her Phanpy and Trapinch emerged from inside. Wes took out two of his own and threw them.
"Furret, Yanma! Go!" Wes called out. The two Shadow Pokémon emerged from inside, ready to battle.
"Furret, Yanma! Shadow Blitz!" Wes ordered. Furret and Yanma complied with Wes and landed a hit on the two Ground-types.
"Phanpy! Use Rollout! Trapinch! Use Sand Tomb!" The girl ordered. Phanpy rolls into a ball and heads right toward the Clear Wing Pokémon, landing a hit. Trapinch unleashed Sand and entrap Furret in it. Yanma then enters Reverse Mode. Knowing what would happen, Wes had to snap Yanma back to his senses.
"Yanma!" Wes shouted. That did it. Yanma has snapped back to its senses completely. "Shadow Blitz again!" Furret and Yanma lands a hit with a double Shadow Blitz combo, landing a hit on the both of them, knocking them both out.
"This didn't happen!" the girl said, calling her two Pokémon back. "No matter what, this elevator is off-limits!"
"Why?" Rui asked.
"Because it just is, okay?! Now, go away!" The girl shouted.
"Better move on," Wes said. Rui agreed with him and helped with the search for Miror B and Plusle. They were unaware of a pair of yellow eyes watching them. They were going go head up the stairs when they spotted a boy who appeared to he standing guard. He spotted the both of them.
"What do you think you're doing here?!" The boy exclaimed. He took out two Pokéballs and threw them. "Taillow! Hoothoot! I choose you!" Both Taillow and Hoothoot came at the same time, ready to battle. Wes took out two of his own and threw them.
"Yanma! Noctowl! Go!" Wes called out. Yanma and Noctowl both came out, ready to battle as well. "Noctowl! Use Shadow Storm! Yanma! Shadow Blitz!" Wes ordered. Noctowl unleashed Shadow Storm as Yanma came at Taillow with Shadow Blitz. Both bird Pokémon felt the super-effect of the Shadow Pokémon.
"Taillow! Use Wing Attack! Hoothoot! Use Peck!" The boy ordered. Taillow and Hoothoot rushed to attack the two Shadow Pokémon.
"Noctowl! Shadow Storm again!" Wes ordered. Noctowl flapped its wings and sent out another Shadow Storm, hitting them both, knocking the two bird Pokémon out.
"You're too strong for me!" The boy exclaimed. He calls his Taillow and Hoothoot back. "I was no match for you... I need to train more..."
Wes and Rui went up stairs and they were spotted by a few Trainers. Wes has battled and beaten them with Yanma whom went into Reverse Mode, but Yanma managed to snap the Clear Wing Pokémon back to its senses. He also battled with Togetic, Noctowl, and Furret. Rui could tell Yanma was making some progress with opening up, but still not as near as the others, but near enough. When they finally reached the roof, there was a man standing at an entrance of a cave.
"We've just captured an intruder. Go inside and provide assistance," the man said. Wes nodded as they see the building.
"You think Miror B's inside?" Rui whispered.
"If he is, then he's trapped. Come on," Wes said.
Wes and Rui walked towards the door of the building and stepped inside. They spotted the two young women who were with Miror B earlier. The young woman with the red hair gave Silva a kick in the groin, making him groan in pain. Wes and Rui were shocked to see Silva in such a situation.
"Darling, aren't you one of Duking's people? What made you think that you could simply waltz in here? Such a silly boy," the young woman with the purple hair said.
"Wh-Where's Miror B? I'm taking him down!" Silva stated, despite the pain.
"Take him down?" The young woman with the red hair scoffed. "After the beating you took? That's too funny!" She laughed.
"You wait, I'm going to drive all of you bastards out of this town!" Silva stated. The young woman with red hair laughed again.
"Ooh, such a feisty boy!" The young woman with the red hair taunted. "Don't tell me we have to take your Pokémon hostage to make you settle down. Like we did with Duking." Silva looked right at her.
"Wh-What?!" Silva exclaimed, not liking the threat.
"I don't think so, ladies!" Wes spoke up, finally having enough. The two young women turned to see Wes and Rui standing at the doorway. "You're not taking any more Pokémon from anyone!"
"Oh? We seem to be getting a lot of unexpected company today. But that's no excuse for being a bad host!" The young woman with the red hair said.
"Take him on, Reath!" The young woman with the purple hair said.
"That's what I'm going to do, Ferma," Reath said, stepping forward. She took out two of her Pokéballs and threw them. "Remoraid, Spinarak! Go!" Her Pokéballs opened and both of Remoraid and Spinarak came out to battle. Wes took out two of his own Pokéballs and threw them.
"Espeon, Umbreon! Go!" Wes called out. Espeon and Umbreon emerged from inside, ready to battle. Rui looked at Remoraid and gasped.
"Wes! Remoraid's a Shadow Pokémon!" Rui said.
"Then, Remoraid's my target," Wes said.
"You think so? I don't think so! Remoraid! Shadow Rush on Espeon! Spinarak! Use Bug Bite on Umbreon!" Reath ordered. Remoraid and Spinarak rushed at Espeon and Umbreon, intending to land a hit.
"Espeon! Use Psybeam on Remoraid! Umbreon! Use Snarl on Spinarak!" Wes ordered. Espeon fired Psybeam at Remoraid, hitting it. Umbreon unleashed Snarl, hitting Spinarak. Wes took out a Pokéball and converted it into a Snag Ball. He threw it at Remoraid. The Jet Pokémon flows inside. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Wes's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Remoraid with him. He chose to keep Remoraid in exchange for Togetic. Reath wasn't happy about having her Remoraid snagged from her.
"You little!" Reath took out another Pokéball and threw it. "Luvdisc! Go!" Her Pokéball opened and her Luvdisc came out, ready to battle. "Use Draining Kiss on Umbreon!" Luvdisc rushes at Umbreon and gave the Moonlight Pokémon a kiss, draining some of his stamina.
"Espeon! Use Confusion!" Wes ordered. Espeon unleashed Confusion, lifting Spinarak and Luvdisc in it and sent them flying, hitting the wall. It resulted in a double knockout.
"How did that happen?! Unbelievable!" Reath exclaimed in disbelief. "My Pokémon couldn't muster a thing! Not only that, but you snagged my Remoraid! You're no ordinary Trainer!" Silva was amazed and impressed. Ferma stepped forward to battle him.
"Were you hired by Duking as his bodyguards?" Ferma asked.
"It's no business of yours!" Wes stated.
"Bodyguards or not, let me warn you, if you mess with us, you'd better be prepared for the consequences!" Ferma said, taking out two of her own Pokéballs and threw them. "Mantine, Aipom! Go!" Rui looked right at Mantine.
"Wes! That Mantine is a Shadow Pokémon, too!" Rui warned.
"Mantine it is, then," Wes said. "Umbreon! Use Snarl on Mantine! Espeon! Use Psybeam on Aipom!" Espeon and Umbreon fired their attacks at Ferma's Pokémon.
"Dodge them!" Ferma shouted. Mantine and Ferma dodged Espeon and Umbreon's attacks. "Shadow Rush on Espeon, Mantine! And Aipom! Use Power-Up Punch on Umbreon!" Aipom lands a strong punch onto Umbreon, dealing some heavy damage and building up Aipom's attack power. Mantine rushes at Espeon and gave the Sun Pokémon a heavy hit. "Use Shadow Rush again!" Mantine rushes at Espeon with another Shadow Rush.
"Espeon! Use Confusion!" Wes ordered. Espeon uses Confusion on Mantine, making it float up in the air.
"Aipom! Power-Up Punch again!" Ferma ordered.
"Umbreon! Dodge and use Feint Attack!" Wes ordered. Umbreon vanished, making Aipom miss its target, but land a hit on the Long Tail Pokémon. "Snarl!" Umbreon unleashed Snarl, resulting in a knockout. She called back her Aipom and took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Furret! Go!" Ferma called out. Her Pokéball opened and her Furret emerged from inside. "Furret! Use Strength on Umbreon!" Furret came at Umbreon to attack. Umbreon dodged Furret's attack. Espeon slammed Mantine on the ground, hard. "Mantine! Use Shadow Mist!" Mantine unleashed a shadowy mist, surrounding the two Eeveelutions.
"Stay focused, you two!" Wes said.
"Furret! Use Play Rough on Umbreon!" Ferma ordered. Furret rushes at Umbreon and gave him a series of beatings. "Confused about Shadow Mist? I'll explain it. Shadow Mist lowers the opponent's evasiveness, making any Pokémon you got targets.
"If you think you're trying to scare me, but you'll be disappointed to know that I don't scare easily," Wes said.
"After I beat you, you'll change your mind. Mantine! Shadow Rush!" Ferma ordered. Mantine rushes at Espeon and Umbreon.
"Espeon! Psybeam!" Wes ordered. Espeon fired Psybeam, hitting Mantine on the mark. "Umbreon! Use Feint Attack on Furret!"
"Furret! Use Play Rough!" Ferma ordered. Furret attempts to land a hit onto Umbreon, but the Moonlight Pokémon vanished again and lands a hit onto Furret, knocking it out. Ferma was infuriated and she took out another Pokéball and threw it. "Yanma! Go!" Her Pokéball opened and her Yanma emerged from inside. "Use Steel Wing! And Mantine! Use Shadow Rush!" Yanma flew at Espeon as Mantine rushes at Umbreon.
"Confusion!" Wes ordered. Espeon uses Confusion on Mantine and Yanma, stopping them both in their tracks. "Umbreon! Use Snarl!" Umbreon unleashed Snarl, hitting them both. Wes took out a Pokéball, converting it into a Snag Ball. He threw it at Mantine. The Kite Pokémon flows inside, and the Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Wes's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Mantine with him. He decides to keep Mantine in exchange for Furret.
"What just happened?! Unbelievable 2!" Ferma said. Ferma turned to Reath. "Reath, let's make ourselves scarce for the time being!"
"Righto, Ferma," Reath agreed. "Ultra-super fire dash!" They ran down the stairs, leaving Wes, Rui, and Silva. They went up to him and helped Silva on his feet.
"Are you alright?" Rui asked.
"Yeah," Silva answered. "Ow!" He placed his hands on his crotch, still feeling the pain. "Thank you for saving me. Do you two know Duking?"
"Yeah, we know him. But what were you thinking? Taking on Miror B on your own like that was reckless, and not to mention stupid! You could have gotten yourself killed trying to stop him!" Wes stated.
"Wes!" Rui gasped.
"No, he's right. I know that now. I'm a fool. I didn't know what was happening at all..." Silva said. "They'd taken Duking's Plusle hostage! How could they do something so downright dirty?"
"That's why we're here. We came here to rescue Plusle," Rui said.
"I'm going, too!" Silva said, trying to walk, but he got his knees again. "Ow, ow, ow..."
"Not in your condition. You'll have to wait here," Rui said. Just then, the screen came on as Miror B appeared. He laughed.
"We meet again, kiddies!" Miror B announced. Silva growled in anger.
"Miror B! You cowardly cheat!" Silva growled.
"Cowardly cheat? That's so not true! Taking a hostage is perfectly fine as a bargaining tactic!" Miror B laughed.
"You call that a tactic? Plusle had better be okay!" Rui hissed.
"Or you'll have us to answer to!" Wes added.
"Oh, the darling couldn't be any safer if it tried! I'm sure it will come to adore me before too much longer," Miror B stated.
"You've got to be kidding!" Rui exclaimed.
"Where's Plusle? You better give it back or else!" Wes exclaimed. Miror B chuckled.
"No running or hiding for me! Come to the cave; that's where I'll be. I'll be waiting for you, my pretties!" Miror B said before he chuckled for the last time before cutting contact.
"That bastard!" Silva growled.
"Silva, where's the cave?" Wes asked.
"Just outside of here. That's where that guy is standing. He beat me in battle and he dragged me in here where those two hussies did a number on me. And there's one more thing," Silva said.
"What?" Wes asked.
"Take this," Silva said, handing Wes a file. He knew it was another one. It was entitled "Shadow Pokémon".
"What did it tell you?" Wes asked.
"I don't know what's written on it. I never read it, but it looked important. Be careful when you go to the cave! The sentinel is tough!" Silva said.
"Don't worry about us. We can take him and Miror B," Wes stated. Wes decided to read the file and see what it has to say.
A Shadow Pokémon is a Pokémon that has been made into a fighting machine by artificially shutting the door to its heart.
What we didn't know is that the Shadow Pokémon exude a dark aura that can't normally be seen by the human eye.
Unfortunately, a girl with the ability to see this dark aura has been discovered. This is a major problem. The girl could become a huge obstacle for our Shadow Pokémon Plan. A solution to this threat is urgently needed.
"So that's why they took me. They were going to shut me up before I could tell anyone," Rui said.
"Well, the only thing they didn't count on was me coming along and saving your skin," Wes said. This made Rui blush.
This where we will cut it short, but there will be more coming up when they enter the Pyrite Cave and confront Miror B and clear him out. Will Wes and Rui rescue Plusle before it becomes a Shadow Pokémon? Find out as as continue on.