Strange
Chapter One: All I Feel
This will be a three part short story about what happens a year after the events between N and Touko battle inside the castle. As I put, it may contain spoilers and anyone who does not wish to be spoiled should not read this. I wanted to write this because N's character surely opened my eyes to something amazing and stunning. The ending of the game broke my heart and I cried for a long time. The music crushes me whenever I listen to it and to those who feel the same and love that odd trainer with green hair and monochrome cap…
This is for you.
"… There's something I want to talk to you about."
"…?"
"When I first met you back in Acculuma Town… I heard the voices of your Pokemon and they shocked me… Why do these Pokemon… Why do they claim to be… fond of you…? They said they wanted to be with you…"
"…"
"… I couldn't comprehend. That there were Pokemon in this world who liked people… I had no knowledge of such Pokemon until that moment… And from then on, as my journey continued, my feelings swayed… Pokemon and people were all selflessly joining their hearts to help each other… So I wanted to fight you, to ascertain my belief… I wanted to face you as a fellow hero. That I desired…"
"N…"
"I considered only Pokemon… No, only those Pokemon I had known, even… I should not have opposed you, surrounded by all those Pokemon you had met… "
"I… I…"
"… Well, the Champion has forgiven me, but… What I do now will be up to me to decide…"
A blinding flash engulfs the room as the Pokeball opens in midair to reveal one of the legendary dragons of Unova. It floats in the open air of the destroyed wall of N's Castle, where it burst in before our match, our ultimate battle.
The energy feels stifling, and an odd feeling overcomes me and makes my eyes prickle with tears.
Why do I feel so sad…?
N Harmonia, the hero of ideals, turns to me with his friend looming like a guardian behind him.
"Touko!"
"…!"
"You must have dreams… Your dreams… are powerful! Your dreams and truth have the power to change the world! Touko! You can do it!"
"Well, then… Farewell…!"
"… N! No, don't go!"
It's too late, I reason. He flies away to the horizon as I fall to my knees in the remains of his castle. No, rather, this is the stage of Ghetsis's true colors. The battle between me and N was something entirely different than that of this castle. This place was tainted, but it was not because of N. It was because of Ghetsis Harmonia!
"N…" I muttered in a hoarse breath, "You better come back one day! That way we can see this world together! Don't forget…"
Don't forget…
Don't forget me…
It's a year later, and I've already turned seventeen a couple of months ago. I wonder if N has turned eighteen yet. He passes through my mind more often than I care to admit to anyone, even to Bianca or Cheren. She says I've become a bit quiet since that day, and I cannot bring myself to disagree with her because I know this to be true. However, the reason for my behavior is a mystery even to me.
I also find myself leaning on the wooden railing south of my hometown, Nuvema Town, looking toward the horizon with the slight imagery with a looming shadow flying toward me. I'm being foolish, I always reason, he made his decision and I truly have no reason to care about it.
But I know that I do.
"Here you are again. Are you thinking about something or someone?" Ah. It's Cheren. He leans on the fencing next to me, looking toward the ocean as if he was able to see the flying shadow too. I know he can't, but how I wish he could confirm it!
"I'm just thinking about what happened a year ago. Honestly." That is the truth. Perhaps not the whole truth, but it held some truth nonetheless. He looks down at the lapping waves with a look of hesitation etched upon his gentle features.
"You're thinking about what's happened to N, aren't you…?"
I start, standing up tensely and narrowing my eyes accusingly at him from beneath my growing bangs with a small crick of my nose in irritation.
He looked at me innocently enough which made me realize instantly that he had known all along about what I had been thinking about on this railing for the past year…
"I'm only worried about him, Cheren! I told you what Ghetsis did to him since he was an infant! The things I had seen and heard… You were there! I care, alright?"
Oddly enough, Cheren did not chide me or prepare himself for a lengthy lecture on how expression compassion or adoration for an enemy is not wise in any form. He gave me an understanding smile, patting my shoulder affectionately like he did whenever he knew I had a bad day when we were younger.
"Touko… We've known each other for years. While you are passionate about Pokemon and helping people, this N character hit you far deeper than any other person you'd met on your journey. I saw it as soon as you battled him for the first time in Accumula Town. You saw something inside of him that made your eyes change. I might not know exactly what it is or how it even began at all… But I do know that N is the cause and the only reason you're like this is because of him. I don't like seeing you so distant… So I'll help in any way I can!"
"Cheren…"
He glared at me now, the finality sign at the end of a conversation.
It never worked on me.
"Bianca knows too, doesn't she?" I knew the answer. I just had to have him confirm it. She was a good friend, and while Cheren was the more intelligent, she felt my emotions much more strongly since we shared the bond only two girls could.
He nodded, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. I couldn't help but break into a slight smile.
Cheren never could say no to Bianca!
I felt soft warmth enveloping my hand, and I looked down to see his hand covering my own. Looking back to his familiar face, he acknowledged me by giving me a gentle bow.
"Let's get you home. Bianca threatened to have my head if I didn't get you back soon so we could watch some movies in your room. Girls…" He turned to see my disgruntled face, "—most girls can be a bit overwhelming. I think many are trained in guilt trips from a young age…"
With our laughs ringing through the town as we walked hand in hand to my two-story home, thoughts of dragons and the odd green-haired teen were temporarily shelved away in the back of my mind for a later time when they can arise to bring about a new emotion I found while speaking with Cheren:
Determination.