i. "First, I must tell you…I am the king of Team Plasma."
Touko is surprisingly silent, ocean orbs fixated on her own hands, and he finds himself relieved, although a bit unnerved, at her tranquil reaction. Below them, the amusement park grows more and more distant, technicolor lights and pompous laughter fading from their small space on the ferris wheel. People and their Pokemon look like specks of dust from their place among the sky and N tenses up.
So, this is what the stars feel like? Distant and empty, seeking answers from a girl who keeps herself out of reach?
Touko offers no answers to his angst. She only tucks a stray wisp of chestnut hair back behind her ear and her silence beckons him to continue.
ii. "Ghetsis asked me to work with him to save the Pokemon."
At this, her lips part slightly as though to reply, but she quickly settles back into stillness. His words pulse in her ears. The memory of a ruby-eyed man, clad in silken robes and laced with malice, briefly surface and she can't stop her heart from quickening, hammering against her chest with furious speed. Every beat is a scream and she swallows her cries.
They are at the peak of the ferris wheel now, the closest to the stars they will ever be. The world stretches out beneath them and she can see nothing but moonlit forests and snow covered mountains for miles.
Beautiful.
Maybe in another life, where he wasn't a king and she wasn't a hero, this sight would have been enjoyed, this secret view for star crossed lovers. But instead, Touko can only stare at the boy before her, all mystic and mystery in a smile that can barely touch the corners of his tired eyes.
He seems to notice her eyes finally on him.
iii. "I wonder how many Pokemon exist in this world…"
N smiles at her with deplorable wonder. They sit on opposite sides of the ferris wheel and the line between them is clear cut. Gravity is bringing them back down and he feels foolish to have ever thought a moment like this could have ever lasted forever.
Amusement park colors reanimate their quiet space on the ferris wheel and the brief moment that could only be described as flying ends with nothing more than a slight nod from each of them.
They exit the ride together and ironically, it's the closest they've been this entire night. He almost reaches out a trembling hand to touch her, but the sound of rapid footsteps and his name stop him. Team Plasma members stand behind him catch their breath, ready to fight. N dismisses them with a wave. Instead, he turns to Touko, who pulls out her Pokeballs in understanding.
Predictably, he loses. The sight of her, blazing and victorious, is the last thing he sees before he's forced to turn away.