"That's right! We must liberate the Pokémon!"
I listened to this man, Ghetsis, speak and thought about what he said.
Liberating Pokémon, I thought. But...do the Pokémon want that? Shouldn't they have a say in whether they want to be separated from us or not?
Trainer, what's liberation?
I glanced down at Victini in my arms. "Liberation means taking you from me and releasing you to fend for yourself, Victini."
Victini let out a cry, nuzzling close to me, as if she were afraid that they would try to wrench her away from me right then and there. I don't want to be liberated! I want to stay with you, Trainer!
"Don't worry Victini; I won't let anyone take you away from me."
"Your Pokémon..." I looked up and saw a young man with tea green hair and wearing a gray and black cap looking at me. I couldn't stop looking at his eyes.
Why...Why does he look so sad?
"Just now," he went on, "your Pokémon was saying..."
I held up a hand, and he paused. "I know," I said, "I was explaining to her about liberation."
"Oh, then you can hear it too? That's wonderful." The young man sent me a friendly smile. Even so, I still saw sadness in his emerald eyes. "My name is N."
I smiled back at him. "My name is White, and this is my friend Victini."
Hi! Nice to meet you! Victini called a friendly hello to N.
"We just began our journey, and we're going to see the world!"
"I see...White, right?" I nodded. He smiled wider and held out a Poke ball. "Let me hear your Pokémon's voice again! Purrloin, go!" He tossed the Poke ball, and out came a cute cat like Pokémon. Curious, I reached into my bag and pulled out my Pokedex, but before I could turn it on, N stiffened, and he grabbed my wrist so tightly it hurt. I winced in pain, and I heard Victini cry out in fury. Let her go!
"Is that...a Pokedex?" N's tone was hard, and it chilled me to the very core. "Why do you have such a foul thing?"
"P-Professor Juniper gave it to me," I replied, still wincing from N's painful grip. "It's so I can learn more about the Pokémon I see on my journey with Victini."
"So you're going to confine many Pokémon in Poke balls for that?" N demanded, tightening his grip. "You're just like every Trainer on this planet!"
By now, my hand was numb. I'd lost all circulation in it because N held my wrist so tightly.
"N, you're hurting me," I whimpered. "Please let me go..."
Stop it! Victini ran forward, and she started to talk to N.
I don't know how many people you've met, but it's not fair of you to assume my Trainer's a bad person because of the actions of others! My Trainer is a kind and caring person. She would sacrifice her own life to protect us, and we would all do the same for her! We all love being with her, and we would never leave her, ever!
N's eyes widened as Victini talked to him, and he eventually let go of my wrist.
"I...never expected to hear Pokémon say such things," he murmured. He stared at me again. "You are...a rarity. I'm sorry if I hurt you." He came closer and took my arm. I flinched a little at his touch, but relaxed when he smiled gently and reassuringly. He gently massaged my wrist, restoring the circulation to my hand. My heart raced and my face felt hot. I was blushing, but I don't think he noticed. He picked up his Purrloin and started to walk away, but then stopped and looked back at me.
"As long as Pokémon are confined in Pokeballs, they will never be perfect beings. I have to change the world for them, because they're my friends." He paused for a moment, and then he said "I like you. I have a feeling we'll meet again soon." And with that, he walked away.
N, I thought to myself, you're right, we will meet again. The question is, will we be friends, or enemies?
