After rescuing Rui from the thugs called Trudly and Folly, Wes and Rui started to make their way towards the mayor's house with help from a couple of locals. When they arrived to the mayor's house, a rather tall man is seen stepping out of the house. He wore a purple jumpsuit. He has long white hair and red eyes. He noticed Wes standing before him.
"Hm? I'd guess you're a traveling Trainer," the tall man said.
"Yeah, I'm traveling around. So what?" Wes asked. The man just looked at him.
"I like what I see in your expression," the man said as he chuckled. "I have a feeling I may see you again somewhere." He walked off, leaving Wes and Rui confused. They stepped inside and they saw a fat, jolly man sitting at a desk. He has gray hair on his balding head and a gray mustache. He wore a brown overcoat, a gray vest, a red sash with a Pokéball medal, blue pants, and black shoes. He sees Wes and Rui step inside. He stood up and approached the both of them.
"Ah, you must be travelers! Welcome to Phenac City! I am Es Cade, the Mayor of Phenac City. Now, you wanted to see me. Is there something that I may be able to assist you with?" The mayor asked. Rui stepped up.
"I...um..." Rui paused. Es Cade looked right at her with a smile.
"Oh? What may I do for a pretty young lady like you?" Es Cade asked. Rui finally spoke up.
"I saw it!" Rui exclaimed. Es Cade was confused by what she said.
"Saw it? What did you see?" Es Cade asked.
"I saw a peculiar Pokémon... No, that's not quite right," Rui said. She got her head together. "What I saw was a Pokémon that gave off a black aura. It was like a fighting machine! And that Pokémon would attack people!"
"O-o-o-oh, my! Pokémon like a fighting machine? And it attacks people?! Now, if that were true, that would be truly frightening. However, it is a little hard to believe," Es Cade said.
"It's true! It's true, Mr. Mayor!" Rui claimed. Wes can tell she was telling the truth, so he was curious about what kind of Pokémon she was talking about. "Because I saw that Pokémon, I was made the prisoner of some frightening men until a little while ago." Es Cade stroked his chin.
"Hmm... I see. I understand. I will order an investigation at once," Es Cade said. Rui beamed.
"You will? Thank you, Mr. Mayor!" Rui said.
"Oh, no, no. There is no need for thanks. We mustn't all thugs to do as they wish. Especially thugs that endanger a pretty young lady like you!" Es Cade said with a smile. "I'll ask that you give me a little time on this matter. I promise we will get some useful information for you." He looked right at Wes. "Oh, yes! You appear to be a Pokémon Trainer yourself."
"Yeah, I'm a Trainer," Wes answered.
"I thought as much. I urge you to visit our city's pride and joy, our Pokémon Stadium. It's a breathtakingly beautiful stadium befitting our oasis city!" Es Cade said.
"Thanks, I'll be sure to check it out," Wes said.
"Wonderful. No, run along you two. This matter cannot look into itself. Now, off you go. Shoo-shoo-shoo," Es Cade kindly said as Wes and Rui took their leave. His smile quickly turned into a frown.
Just when Wes and Rui stepped out of the mayor's house, Wes turned to Rui.
"Hey, Rui," Wes said. Rui's face when she heard him speak her name.
"Yeah, Wes?" Rui asked.
"I just wanted to ask you if you're sure about what you saw," Wes said.
"Yes, I did see. It was frightening. I saw a black aura come from out of the Pokémon's body, but nobody else could see it, but I did. And that was when those thugs caught me," Rui said.
"Well, if they do come for you again, just know that I'm gonna beat them again to keep you safe," Wes said. Rui smiled.
"You're pretty sweet, Wes," Rui said. "And I noticed that you're being bashful when you spoke my name."
"Well, it's your name, isn't it? I mean, I can't just call you 'girl', could I?" Wes asked. Rui chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Rui said. "Now, let's check out the stadium like the mayor suggested."
"If you insist," Wes said.
Wes and Rui stepped inside the stadium and they saw how beautiful it was. Water was flowing down the walls.
"Are you here to enter in a tournament?" A young woman asked.
"We're just here to see the stadium for ourselves," Wes said.
"If you say so. If you're here to register, then you're too late because there is already a battle going on, so it's going to be a while until another one starts up," the young woman said.
"Thanks for the info," Rui said.
"Not a problem," the young woman said, taking her leave. She took a glance at Wes and Rui before she smiled. "Such a cute couple."
After seeing the front lobby of the stadium, Wes and Rui are met by a few grunts from Team Snatch. They approached Wes with disgruntled looks on their faces.
"Hey, Wes! We finally found you! You filthy, double-crossing traitor!" One of the Team Snatch grunts hissed.
"Wrecking the hideout wasn't good enough for you?! So you rip off the Snag Machine? You got a lot of balls to pull that stunt with us!" Another Team Snatch grunt said. Rui was surprised when she saw them.
"Who are these people? Huh? Are they Team Snatch?" Rui asked. She looked right at Wes. "And what did they mean by 'traitor'?" She gasped when she figured something out. "Wes... You mean..."
"That's right, pretty lady! He's from Team Snatch, just like us!" The first Team Snatch grunt confirmed.
"But he's no ordinary member. He's a Snagger. He's the best in Team Snatch at snagging Pokémon without fail!" The third Team Snatch grunt said. Rui didn't want to believe a word of it.
"No way! Is it true, Wes?" Rui asked. Wes looked at her. He wanted to deny it, but he didn't want to lie to her face about it, so he had to tell her the truth.
"Yes, it's true. I used to be a member of Team Snatch," Wes said.
"Oh, so it is true! That's a little shocking!" Rui gasped.
"I left Team Snatch after a while. I decided it was beneath me," Wes said.
"Hey, Wes! Come on! Hand it over! Give back the Snag Machine you ripped off from the hideout!" The third Team Snatch grunt demanded.
"Snag Machine? Wes, do you really have something like that?" Rui asked.
"Yeah. I do. I'm wearing it right now," Wes said.
"The Snag Machine is built for Trainers. When a Trainer puts the Snag Machine on, their Pokéballs are converted. Ordinary Pokéballs are turned into Snag Balls that can steal Pokémon from their Trainers in battle!" The second Team Snatch grunt explained. So the first Team Snatch grunt just stomped on his foot, making him yelp in pain. "Ow, ow, ow, ow! What the hell is that for?!"
"That was for blabbering our secret, numnuts!" The first Team Snatch grunt growled.
"I get it, Wes. That's why these creeps are chasing after you," Rui said. The first Team Snatch grunt took offense to her remark.
"Creeps? What do you mean by creeps?" The first Team Snatch grunt demanded. He shook it off. "Gah, this is getting us nowhere! If you won't give it up willingly, we'll take it back by force!"
"You're welcome to try," Wes said.
"You're gonna wish you didn't just say that," the first Team Snatch grunt said, taking out two of his Pokéballs and threw them. "Corphish, Koffing! I choose you!" His Pokéballs opened and his two Pokémon emerged from inside. Wes took out his two Pokéballs and threw them.
"Umbreon, Espeon! Go!" Wes called out. His two Pokémon emerged from inside, waiting for his instructions.
"Koffing! Use Sludge! Corphish! Use Crabhammer!" The first Team Snatch grunt ordered.
"Espeon! Use Confusion!" Wes ordered. Espeon used Confusion to block Corphish and Koffing's attacks. Sludge is sent right back at Koffing, being hit by its own attack. Corphish lands right on its back, but Corphish gets back up on its feet.
"Corphish! Use Bubble Beam! Koffing! Use Gyro Ball!" The first Team Snatch grunt ordered. Corphish fired Bubble Beam as Koffing spins around to perform Gyro Ball.
"Umbreon! Use Snarl!" Wes ordered. Umbreon unleashed Snarl, cutting through Corphish's Bubble Beam and lands a hit, resulting in a knockout. "Espeon! Use Return!" Espeon ran towards Koffing and lands a hit, resulting in a knockout as well. He called his fallen Pokémon back inside.
"No! I'm not good enough?!" The first Team Snatch grunt exclaimed. Wes called his two partners back. The Team Snatch grunts all back up and glare right at their former comrade. "Blast you, Wes! Don't think this is over!"
"We're going to get that Snag Machine back. Just you wait!" The second Team Snatch grunt threatened.
The Team Snatch grunts took off, leaving Wes and Rui alone. Rui nervously looked at Wes.
"Well, what do you know, Wes. You're from Team Snatch," Rui said.
"Formerly," Wes corrected her.
"Oh, right. Formerly with Team Snatch, to be more accurate," Rui said.
"Look, Rui, if you don't wanna hang around with me anymore because of that, then I'm not going to make you. It'll be your call, and I won't bother you again," Wes said. Rui took Wes by the hand, surprising him. He looked right in her face.
"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," Rui said while blushing. Wes was blushing even redder.
"Me? A gallant prince?" Wes asked.
"Of course," Rui said.
"I only did what anyone would do," Wes said, blushing. "I thought you'd end up hating me of you knew where I came from, and I wouldn't blame you if you did."
"It doesn't matter to me. Besides, I thought up something after listening to those creeps," Rui said.
"Yeah? What?" Wes asked.
"We should go shopping for some Pokéballs," Rui suggested. Wes looked at her like she was crazy.
"Shopping for Pokéballs? I don't think we can find any in any stores here in the Orre region. You know there aren't any wild Pokémon living out here anyway," Wes said.
"You never know unless you try," Rui said.
"I guess you're right. Maybe we can try the Outskirt Stand and see if I can try my luck there. I just hope what you got in mind is a good plan," Wes said.
"It is. You're gonna have to trust me on it," Rui said.
"I trust you, Rui," Wes assured.
With that said, Wes and Rui have started their adventure together. The mystery of Rui's abductors will soon be revealed as we continue on with the story. Stay tuned.