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During their outing in Agate Village the Snagems had briefly crossed paths with the Steel Snatcher, getting closer to him than ever before until he fled, having somehow switched places with a disguised Ditto. While the snatcher got away they did learn from an elderly couple whose address he uses as his own when registering for coliseum matches that he has a girlfriend, their grand daughter. Said girlfriend and grand daughter is said to now live in Phenac City, having gone to the desert oasis of a town with her boyfriend, the Steel Snatcher himself. The Snagems now meet up in Phenac City to track down this girlfriend and hopefully get more information that will lead them to their stolen Snag Machine or better yet they find the snatcher himself and this time he won't escape.

GRAY informs the Snagems to meet up at Phenac City Pokemon Center, where Larrimore, sans armor as he is in a desert, waits for the others to show up. The Pinsir hybrid getting plenty of nervous stares from passersby as he leans against the outside of the building.

Surprisingly, Amaranth had been around for a while, pestered constantly to come not by GRAY, but by Cera. Apparently, even the Mew was ready to start cracking skulls, literally if it came down to it. People could be more on the ball, they knew to be ever vigilant.

She didn't say a word, but a mental pressure could be felt by everyone there as she tried not to just tell everyone off for not being here the absolute second GRAY had sent his message.

Needless to say, even Amaranth didn't dare say a word for fear that she'd be given another lecture and that no, the fact that a Togekiss and Farfetch'd were all that really trusted her in her new form wasn't an excuse.

"I dunno, maybe the sun's already fried their brains," Cera remarked loud enough for one of the SNAGs to hear her, rolling her eyes more and more at everyone else. "And I dunno, maybe because someone has to compile it so it looks good? Otherwise, maybe it wouldn't make a difference if there wasn't a brief at all and see how far they get on their own." Her chilling, apprehensive tone was enough to make Amaranth follow Larrimore immediately, not daring to question or object to anything right now.

Though, by now, Cera wasn't far from Pre Gym at all, having started towards there well before anyone else thought to start walking.

"I better get to hit something this time..." Connor complained as the Claydol ported him beside the Pokemon Center. He was rather irritated from the last mission where they split up. His group went knocking on doors while the others got all the action. Now they had to find this "Rui" girl with nothing to go on but a name. The teen was already getting agitated at the thought of this assignment turning out like the last. Glancing around, he spotted a familiar fiery hybrid headed toward a building with the others. This was the first time he'd been to Phenac City and he wasn't aware of what all it entailed. If he did, perhaps he wouldn't be so grumpy, but for now he would pursue the others.

Connor continued to straggle behind the others, stopping just before the building as it shook a little. He hurried inside to find the others boarding the elevator and managed to squeeze his way inside. At the bottom, he was greeted to the same sight as the others: four different sectors with four men dressed in colorful, flashy costumes. Who were these guys that seemed slightly reminiscent of another group? Larrimore declared it was time to fight at which Connor shrugged and happily approached the green one. Now this was more like it.

Without a word, he sent out his Scrafty, tossing the ball high up into the air. Scrafty needed no instruction here, having practiced this attack pattern several times with his trainer. His knee taking a reddish-orange glow, he dived down at his target; a Graveler that was too busy uprooting a tree. By the time it noticed, it barely had time to use that same tree to block the incoming knee strike. The attack snapped the bark in half and made the boulder stumble back a few steps while the offender landed a good two meters from him. "Finally someone to practice our strategies on. Go with Swagger" he instructed his companion. His opponent whom he suddenly engaged in battle with still looked in shock at he and his Scrafty's sudden appearance. Said Hoodlum was now putting on his fleshy "hood", shooting a nonchalant look the Graveler's way with a slight nod of the head. The big rock was confused; why was this pokemon suddenly acting so cool? At the same time, it found itself being invigorated with newfound strength! But should it be using that strength to fight this awe inspiring pokemon? "...Excuse me. You are?" the man finally spoke. "Does it matter?" Connor politely replied, crossing his arms. "Fair enough. Graveler, Rollout!" The boulder was still fighting with itself when it got the command, in the end succumbing to its master's wishes. The giant rock came barreling toward Scrafty who only looked back at his trainer with the same bored expression. "Try to disrupt its attack with Low Kick" he told him. The hooded pokemon would wait until his opponent got closer before stepping slightly to the side with an extended foot to trip it. Upon contact, Graveler fell out of it's Rollout but braced its fall with all four hands. In the same motion, it would pull a large rock out of the ground after it's next command and sling it at its enemy before landing on two feet. As for Scrafty, he was told to chop through it with a Brick Break, splitting the piece of earth in half, sending each half flying past him. The Fighting type advantage was really helpful in defending against the boulder's attacks, but it meant nothing if they couldn't get in an attack of their own. They needed an opening, one that came when it began struggling with its next command. Graveler started hitting himself, trying to forget about whether or not fighting this pokemon was the right thing to do. Scrafty was told to use that chance to get in his own attack, jumping up and crashing his shining knee into the rock's face. So far this battle was going steadily in their favor, until their opponent suddenly grabbed hold of Scrafty. After taking an attack like that, it was a shock that it managed to react so fast. "Guess that's the Sturdy ability kicking in" he grimaced, fearing what would come next. Verde decided to cut his losses with Graveler and this battle since his next command was Explosion. Bright lights began pouring out of the stone as it was transforming its body into a living bomb. "Scrafty, use Scary Face!" Connor shouted out. The Hoodlum looked into his attacker's eyes, the light shining on his face and improving the intimidating gaze. It made Graveler jump in fright, loosening his grip on his victim; Scrafty taking the opportunity to kick off his opponent and gain as much distance as possible. As the Explosion went off, Connor's pokemon managed to evade the full brunt of the attack but was very much hurt when the dust cleared.

Both trainers returned their pokemon, sending out their next; a Breloom from Verde and a Combusken from Connor. The Snagem's eyes widened when he saw the green kangaroo, another pokemon he had been seeking. So soon after catching a Poliwhirl, it was as if Arceus himself was smiling down upon him with this stroke of luck. "Combusken, Flame Charge!" "...Mach Punch" was all Verde said, a lightning fast strike emerged from Breloom and halted the bird in his tracks. The only reason Connor knew that it attacked was because of his familiarity with the move and the fact that Breloom was shaking its hand, likely due to punching the burning chicken. With it's stretching limbs, it could attack from a distance easily, especially with a move like Mach Punch. A pokemon like that was why he had taken a liking to Breloom and why he was determined to Snag it! Still, getting close to Breloom, type advantage or not, was still a bad idea when it was definitely faster than his pokemon. While he was admiring the pokemon, Verde had it release Spore, highly toxic and effective move. "Fire Ember into the air" he told his fire type who grunted in confirmation, rubbing his chest where he got punched. Exhaling the flames upward, they would fall back down to the ground like rain, eliminating the Spores and falling down on Breloom. It was here that Connor got to see its fancy footwork as it did its best to dodge and weave between the flames. "Now, Ember directly!" he pointed ahead at the target. Combusken let loose another barrage of flaming bullets at the dancing pokemon who was unable to evade so many attacks. Angered, the pokemon began acting on its own, ignoring its master's order to use Stun Spore. Instead it used Leech Seed, hitting the fowl with a seed that burst into restricting life draining vines. While he struggled to break free, it got off two more Mach Punches as it neared the poor bird. "Combusken, calm down! Flame Charge" he calmly instructed. He suddenly ceased his fidgeting and did as he was told, lighting himself on fire to burn the vines off. By then, Breloom had closed in and was preparing a Sky Uppercut. "Now use Mirror Move" Connor grinned, stuffing his hands into his pockets. The look on Breloom's face as it was struck with a Mach Punch to the face was simply priceless. Combusken was then told to follow through with a proper Flame Charge, tackling the kangaroo down to the ground. While he did this, the Snagem had got his Snag Machine ready, loading it with a Great Ball. Just as Breloom knocked Combusken back with a Headbutt, he answered in kind with a sharp Peck attack. Taking note of his trainer's signal, he stepped aside to make room for the incoming capture capsule. This Mushroom pokemon was surprised to see the ball coming its way and even more so to be sucked inside. All eyes locked onto the wobbling sphere until it soon came to a halt. "Y-You-! Breloom?!" Verde started to say but let it go. Combusken quickly retrieved the ball, placing it in his trainer's hand; said trainer rather pleased with this outcome.

With the other three occupied, Larrimore would focus his attention on the red thug who was busy with having his Grumpig telepathically knock trees down in the little meadow area, making a big mess. "Hey! Cease and desist what you are doing!" Larrimore barked as he approached the Rosso, a Pokeball in his hand as he prepared for battle.

"Cease and desist? What are ya, a cop?" Rosso scoffed as he turned around to face the hybrid. "Nah, ya can't be a cop. You're in Orre!" He said with a roaring laugh, his Grumpig joining on the joke as it snorted a laugh of its own.

Larrimore didn't speak further, instead he tossed the ball on the ground and sent out his trusty Pokemon, Chesnaught. "Pin Missile." Is all the Pinsir hybrid uttered.

With a nod the Spiny Armor Pokemon would hold out its right arm with the back of it facing the Grumpig. From its spiky 'forearm guard' it would launch a spray of sharp needles, the Bug chi infused darts pelleting the Grumpig, causing it to whine in pain as it suffered the barrage.

"You'll pay for that! Grumpig, use Psybeam! Make it hurt!" Rosso commanded.

The pig would try and shake off some of the needles lodged in its skin so it could focus on the Chesnaught and not the pain. With an oink the Manipulate Pokemon would fire from its glowing snot a dazzling rainbow colored beam of Psychic energy, the beam slamming into Chesnaught causing it to stumble backwards in pain as it took the Super Effective hit.

"Yeah! How ya like that!?" Rosso shouted. Larrimore didn't respond to the man, he just looked at Chesnaught and spoke a single word. "Rollout."

The Chesnaught would respond by expanding its arm guards as if it were using Spiky Shield but instead it curled up into a ball with its expanded arm guards and shell completely covering its exposed parts. The Grass type would then begin to violently roll towards the Grumpig, said pig attempting to run away but it was no use, the Chesnaught would unleash its spikes from all around it and bowl over the pig.

"Oh yeah!? Another Psybeam! Make it hurt some more!" Rosso commanded, the pig picking its self off the ground and firing another beam at the spike ball as it rolled away. However, the attack would miss as the Chesnaught rolled up a tree, its spikes providing grip to allow it to do so. The Pokemon would then launch its self off the tree and come down on the Grumpig from above, simply crushing it with its spiky body and knocking it out.

"Cheap!" Rosso shouted as he recalled his Pokemon. "Let's see how ya spike head likes this next one! Camerupt, Flamethrower!" The red man shouted as he unleashed his camel, the Fire Pokemon immediately letting loose a stream of flames at the curled up Chesnaught, the fire sweeping over its body.

Chesnaught was unable to withstand the flames and thus uncurled its self as it attempt to roll out of the way, the Flamethrower hurting it badly. "Hang in there. Hit it with a Hammer Arm." Larrimore ordered. Chesnaught would give a sluggish nod before it would leap into the air and come down on the Camerupt with its thick arms as they gave off a brown glow. The attack would prove to be a critical hit as the Camerupt was sent backwards staggering, however Chesnaught was now a sitting duck as it tried to get its breath back.

"That's it! Take out his friend! Overheat!" Rosso shouted. The Camerupt would regain its wits as its volcano humps began to smoke. From its mouth the camel would unleash a massive blast of fire at the Chesnaught, the Overheat consuming it completely. When the flames died down Rosso could see that Chesnaught was on the ground, knocked out and smoking ever so slightly.

"Ha! I won! The grunt actually wins one! I gotta tell-" Before Rosso could finish that sentence a tree would come crashing down on his Camerupt, crushing the poor Pokemon and knocking it out cold. When Rosso turned around to see who was responsible for this he would see Larrimore standing by a fresh tree stump clicking his horns together. "Y-you can't do that! That's cheating!"

"I admit, it's un-sportsman like but so is razing a gym. But like you said, this is Orre." Not giving Rosso a chance to respond, Larrimore would rush towards the red man with Quick Attack and deliver a hard punch to his gut, knocking the wind out of the man and sending him to the ground. "Sorry, friend." He told his Chesnaught as he walked over and recalled him.

"Everyone okay?" He asked the others as he proceeded to take a rope out of his bag and tie up Rosso, after recalling his Camerupt for him of course.

"You don't have to push! I get it" Verde complained as Connor shoved him toward the gathering of the others. He then promptly shoved his hands into his pockets, his Combusken standing beside him chirping loudly at the man. "Alright, crisis averted. Now what?" he asked no one in particular.

With all four of the grunts defeated and captured Larrimore would turn his attention to the Snagems. "I didn't see anyone else. You would think a gym would have people in it...well, besides these thugs." He said, kicking Skrub who was also tied up.

"Heh, I'll tell you where they are." Rosso spoke up. Larrimore didn't respond to him, just glanced over at him with a look that said, 'then speak'. "They are all at the coliseum. Real big tourney going on right now." He explained.

"Alright, now tell me why you're trashing this place or else I'll have me friend here sprinkle you all with his special powder and before we leave we'll make a nice bonfire for you to keep you warm." Oh, now Larrimore's sinister side comes out.

"To send a message." Bluno spoke up. "He's hiding the girl, the very one I'm sure you're looking for as well." Bluno smiled. "Justy has been protecting her. He knows a lot of people are looking for her, us included."

"We're heading to the coliseum. Beauregard, Connor, one of you can decided how we leave our friends." And with that Larrimore began to exit the gym, making his way for Phenac Colosseum.