[Ok, midori] Legends of Shadow [wa teki da.]

[SOLDIER 市丸]

-Plot-
My 'Legends of Shadow' or 'Third Shadow Incident' plot.

Cipher, around three years after the second Shadow Incident, is at it again. With no force left in Orre, they are forced to turn to a new region as a base for their plans: Jhoto. This time they aren't stopping with simply three or four legendary pokemon; Cipher intends to turn all of the Legendary Pokemon into Shadow Pokemon. Unfortunately, Cipher has succeeded in turning all of the Jhoto Legendary Pokemon- save Celebi- and the Legendary Bird trio into Shadow Pokemon.

However, the remaining Legendary Pokemon have found aid and shelter from trainers who are both pure of heart and hold a deep love for pokemon.

-Setting-
A small town located between Mahogany Town and Blackthorn City, called Magnolia Village. It's just South of the Icy Path. The trainers chosen by the Legendary Pokemon have all gravitated there for whatever reason.

-Magnolia Village-
It highly resembles Pyrite Town in Orre. The buildings are all old and battered by the storms that tend to hit the mountain Magnolia Village is located on. Cipher has a base there, hidden in an old warehouse with a basement lab. The village used to be under Team Rocket's control, and there are still signs of that scattered about. Many local trainers possess Shadow Pokemon.

-Characters-

• Ichi: Wes- Chosen by Celebi
  
• Ichi: Sol- Cipher Admin
  
• Feni: Keiichi- Cipher Scientist
  
• Feni: Kiseki- Chosen by Mew
  

[F e n i]

Could I join as two characters?
The first is Keiichi, back when he was a cipher scientist...
And the second is the pure-hearted Kiseki, chosen by Mew.

[SOLDIER 市丸]

Honestly, Wes had never expected to find a town even half as rough as Pyrite Town, but Magnolia Village had it matched. Complete with an equally paranoid police force.

Wes was a trainer from Orre who had come to visit Jhoto on vacation, and had quickly found out why he fit in so well in Pyrite town. Apparently he was suspicious looking, in his fitted blue trench coat with flaring tails, black pants wrapped in leather straps for extra durability in sandstorms, and metal boots made for desert travel. Of course, the mirrored visor over his yellow eyes and the pulsing light of the cord connecting the cuff and pauldron of his Snag Machine didn't help much either.

Currently, the former member of Team Snag'em was standing outside the Pokemon Center in a circle formed by the police. Espeon and Umbreon stood at his sides, glaring fiercely at the men in blue while Wes pondered the situation, absently brushing some of his sandy blond hair away from his visor.

The only other time he had been in a situation like this had been during the first Shadow Incident, when a police man had caught him snagging a Shadow Pokemon in battle square. Of course, Rui had gotten him out of that situation, but his only real human friend wasn't here with him now. Wes saw no way out of his situation.

With a sigh, Wes remained in place, hoping for some form of distraction that would allow him to escape. He really, really wished that he had just stayed at the Prestige Precept Center to help out Justy.

[F e n i]

“Oh dear. What might you think actually HAPPENED here, Shizumasa?” The white ball wriggled in the speaker’s arms, trying to burrow itself within the warmth. The spikes atop the egg pokémon’s head pressed in toward the center of its head pressed towards each other. A frown marred the coordinator’s face as she pressed a soft hand to her baby’s head.

The dilapidated building most likely housed criminals, and the air contained some kind of smog. Her kimono would be stained black if not for the dark purple it already contained. Silky black hair spilled over the girl’s back, tied back by a simple hair tie. Her Pokéballs were hidden within the many folds of the kimono, as well as her belongings. She tried her best not to look completely out of place, but she wasn’t too sure she accomplished much.

Kiseki Tamiya bit the insides of her cheeks and wrapped her arms tighter around the Togepi in her arms. Maybe it was best to get him checked at the Pokémon center. After the decision was made, Kiseki began quickening her pace towards the red building. However, the circle of police around the entrance stopped her in her tracks.

“What’s wrong now?” Kiseki asked no one in particular. She cleared her throat and shouted, “Excuse me? Could I possibly pass through?”

[SOLDIER 市丸]

"Of course, Ma'am. We just need to- AH!" The police man was cut off when a Skarmory dive-bombed him. As the metal bird prepared to use drill peck on the police, Wes quickly cut in with a shout. Calming, the metal bird peered back at it's trainer with a questioning squawk. The trainer shook his head, and both Espeon and Umbreon mimicked the motion.

The Skarmory flew back over to Wes and landed on the ground next to him, being put into perspective. The steel-flying Pokemon was large enough to be ridden- obviously it was a very powerful Pokemon. Wes rested a hand on it's side and called it back into a pokeball, a black light swallowing the metal bird.

And suddenly the police all scrambled backward, racing away. Time with Team Rocket in the village had made them very, very familiar with Dark Balls, pokeballs that made Pokemon evil. The Dark Balls used that same black light. Wes, frowned a little bit as he watched them leave. That had been a strange reaction to the light of a Snag Ball.

Finally free from the police, Wes looked at the girl who had wanted through, and then down at Espeon and Umbreon. With a shrug, Wes started for the door of the Center, only pausing to glance over his shoulder at the girl, "Aren't you coming?" It wasn't a lot to say, but for having just met a stranger, Wes had said a lot. Maybe it was Rui's influence.

Wes and his twin eeveelutions never even saw the green fairy watching them.

[F e n i]

As the Skarmory dove, the coordinator jumped back and threw out a Pokéball on instinct. The carmine light formed into a nine-tailed fox, and its ruby irises glanced over at the steel bird. Cream fur bristled as a tongue of fire leaked from the creature’s mouth. However, there was no need for such a reaction as the suspicious-looking boy called off his Skarmory.

Kiseki breathed a sigh of relief as the police scattered, though her own breath hitched when she saw the black light encapsulate the bird. Her teeth worried the inside of her cheeks as she stepped closer to the man, the Ninetales zigzagging before her, its eyes set on the trainer and his two Eeveelutions.

“Oh! T-thanks,” she stuttered as he spoke, hurrying on behind him. The rusty door of the center slid open with an ear-piercing screech, causing the girl to wince. The Ninetales’ ears pressed flat to her head at the sound; she ushered her trainer in with a few of her tails.

Well, at least the interior of the Pokémon Center had clean floors and a self-machine for healing Pokémon. What Kiseki wouldn’t do for a Nurse Joy and a Blissey right now…

[SOLDIER 市丸]

The interior of the Pokemon Center was in better condition than the outside, but there wasn't a single nurse in sight. Instead three machines were set up along the back wall. A self-serve kitchen was to the left side of the room, and the right had a rest area. A set of stairs in the corner supposedly led up to some rooms if you were spending the night. Wes could have laughed. It was so similar to how the Snag'em base was set up for living that he had nearly done a double take.

As none of his Pokemon needed healing, Wes headed over to the resting side of the room and let all of his Pokemon out of their Pokeballs. Espeon and Umbreon curled up on either side of him for a nap, a hyperactive Typhlosion tackled a female Flygon wearing a red scarf in play, Skarmory perched on the back of the couch, and a Tyranitar, looking largely uninterested in the room, settled down to stare out a dirt-covered window.

They must have made quite the odd sight, Wes laying there surrounded by his Pokemon so soon after a run-in with the police. But all of them were happy, even the play-fighting two that Wes prodded with one of his feet every so often.

The Orre Trainer looked up and over at the female trainer who had followed him into the Center and finally spoke up, “So, what brings you to a place like this?,” recalling Rui for a second, he added on in a suspicious tone, “You didn't get lost, did you?”

[F e n i]

Was this what the world was turning into? No human interaction, all the whirring of the self-serve machines… Kiseki faintly wondered how it was like to be an older citizen in such a tech-based city. That was, until Shizun began wailing again.

“There, there, Shizumasa. No crying now,” she cooed, rubbing the ticklish spot on his forehead. “I’m going to put you in your Pokéball now, and you’ll feel better in a few minutes, okay?” The Togepi may not have quite understood the message, but the crying diminished to a few sniffles here and there. “That’s a good boy. I’ll let you out again when you’re done.” The girl reached into an inner fold of her kimono and took out five red and white devices.

The first she used to return Togepi and place him in the machine. A few clicks here and there, and the machine was working away. The others she released into the center to play. Her own Espeon and Umbreon stretched out on the ground, the purple one jumping into the girl’s lap once she sat down on a chair in the resting area near the ‘troublemaker’. The Umbreon looked uninterested in the living beings, instead staring at the machines that sat on the back wall. A Pikachu twitched her ears, an amaranth sitting behind one. She padded over to the boy’s Typhlosion and Flygon and said hello. The Ninetales kept her guard up by lying at the coordinator’s feet. As for her Spiritomb, it floated around the Center, doing a loop-de-loop every so often.

“Oh,” Kiseki said, turning to the boy. “I like travelling around, is all. I’ve never been around these parts and thought that it was a good idea… Though I don’t think that was such a good idea now, seeing the state of this city. Oh dear, I forgot to introduce myself!” The girl stood from her chair and managed a bow from her waist, her long black hair falling over her shoulders. “I am Kiseki Tamiya, Coordinator and Trainer. A pleasure to make your acquaintance! Might I ask why you’re here, Mr…?”

[SOLDIER 市丸]

Wes watched as Typhlosion and Flygon welcomed the new Pokemon to their game, and chuckled lightly. His Pokemon’s antics were one of the few things that got him to open up. The Orre trainer nodded lightly at the girl’s explanation and replied in as few words as he could manage, “Name’s Wes. I’m here because of some rumors that’ve been flying around,” mulling it over a bit, Wes eventually continued, “Have you ever heard of Cipher?”

At the mention of the name, Typhlosion paused in his play and screeched in fear, diving to hide behind Flygon, Flygon had gone stiff and was shaking slightly, twisting her head in every direction, Skarmory screeched piercingly and dug his talons into the fabric of the couch with a large ripping noise, and Tyranitar visibly flinched and looked away from the window with wide eyes. Wes sighed slightly at the reactions of the Pokemon and glanced down at Espeon and Umbreon. The two had opened their eyes at the name, ready to leap into action at the slightest prevokation. The brothers hadn’t faced the process of becoming a Shadow Pokemon, being snagged, and then being purified, but they had picked up on a healthy fear of Cipher from the other Pokemon Wes possessed. And if he were honest with himself, Wes had a healthy fear of Cipher as well.

When it became obvious that there were no Cipher peons in need of taking down in the immediate vicinity, the Pokemon all calmed further and went back to their previous activities, save for Tyranitar, who decided to hover behind Wes’s seat and continue looking around nervously. Wes raised the hand that was petting Umbreon to scratch lightly at Tyranitar, smiling a bit a the happy rumble he got in response.

[F e n i]

Akarui, the Pikachu with the flower tucked behind its ear, leapt into the air as tiny sparks flew from its cheeks. The display caught the coordinator’s attention, making the girl smile softly. It had been so long since her Pikachu had been so happy. The mouse crawled on the Flygon’s back and sat on its head with a triumphant smirk.

But at the mention of Cipher, the whole room’s atmosphere went cold. Although Kiseki’s pokemon’s reactions were not as severe as the boy’s, everyone still managed to let out a shiver. Even Akarui’s jubilant demeanor dropped at the mention of the organization, and its beady black eyes stole a glance at the girl. For a few moments Kiseki’s head was bowed, eyes hidden behind the two odd white bangs framing her heart-shaped face.

It was only a split second before the human female spoke up, “No, I haven’t heard too much about them, aside from the fact that they’re one of the worst syndicates in the world.” She attempted to meet the boy’s gaze. “I do hope that there aren’t any goons around here… I’m not the battling type of person.”

Instead of catching his eyes, Kiseki saw the hint of a smile on Wes’ face. Sadness flashed through her own irises; she reminded her of someone very dear who had the same mannerisms. Perhaps Wes wasn’t as cold as he made himself out to be. He did save his party from those monsters at Cipher, after all.

[SOLDIER 市丸]

Wes silently assessed Kiseki, before finally giving a small nod. "They are one of the worse syndicates in the world, if not the worse." Wes usually didn't say this much, but it was necessary now. He needed to let Kiseki know what was coming. So that she could get out if she needed to, "I'm here because I have a feeling they are too. That's all I do these days; I track down Cipher in different regions. But eliminating the entire syndicate is impossible."

This time the Pokemon didn't react to the name, most of them deciding to ignore the mention of the name. Lowering his hand from Tyranitar, Wes returned to petting Espeon and Umbreon. He could hear a deep rumble outside. Not thunder. He may live in a desert, but he knew thunder well. This sound... It was something else entirely. Something that was liable to be big trouble for him.

Wes stood abruptly, disturbing the twin eevelutions and causing all of his Pokemon to once again deviate from their activities, eyes locked on the champion trainer of Orre. The harsh teen had walked over to the dust and dirt-caked window and appeared to be focusing hard, staring out of it at the road winding past.

A tank-like machine roared past the building, sounding just like thunder. Wes didn't move, looking at the people riding the machine. Fierce red eyes met Wes's yellow and he lowered the visor before turning away. He knew that face from the files Nett and Secc had hacked from the Cipher database in Orre. One of the Admins for the Johto region, Sol Heatcrest.

This was going to be a long and difficult battle.

[F e n i]

Kiseki once again began to nibble on her lower lip. “That… That must be a hard job.” An awkward silence fell over the two once again. However, that was quickly shattered as a low rumble cascaded through the room.

She too, jumped from instinct. “W-what in the world is that?” As the machine slid to a stop, the coordinator pulled a Pokéball from within the outer folds of her kimono. “Shizumasa, I’m gonna let you sleep inside okay?” The baby sniffled and snuggled into his mother’s embrace before the carmine light returned him to a safer place. Akarui had since leapt onto Kiseki’s left shoulder, cheeks sparking. As the tank rolled by, Kiseki gulped.

Nonononono. Not here. A man with shoulder-length black hair stepped out of the passenger seat of the tank. The coordinator’s breath hitched as deep crimson irises met hers.

Kiseki took a step back as the man in the white lab coat stepped forward. Akarui snarled from her place on her coordinator’s shoulder. “No, it can’t…” Kiseki’s voice drifted into nothing.

A smirk. “Well, what do we have here? The famous Wes and my Swan Queen… How positively LOVELY.” The scientist placed a hand on his hip. “Admin Sol, how do you suppose we handle this?”