Warnings: Mild language and violence, based on various sources including the manga and anime, will have spoilers from BW, possibly BW2

Prologue 1: Execution

The screen flickered, turning into colourless static. A brown-haired boy flicked through the channels, only to find that the result was the same. Touya sighed. It wasn't the first time that that old TV had decided to act up. He felt restless with all the pent-up energy inside him that was not directed to battling and training his Pokémon. They were gone now, supposedly to a much better place without their trainers, but there was no way to know for sure how they were actually doing. His heart tugged as he thought of his Samurott and the rest of his team. It still felt unusual to be without them.

"N… Team Plasma… really won, didn't they?" It wasn't the first time that this question was asked, but Cheren and Bianca did not blame him for voicing his thoughts.

Only a few weeks ago did N win, taking away all of his hopes and dreams of competing in the League and becoming the champion. It was a swift victory for Team Plasma, and was good planning on N's part. Or Ghetsis'. Whoever it proved to be.

A region-wide broadcast was shown about the battle of Truth and Ideals and Touya's defeat, causing disbelief amongst stronger trainers, who just prepared to battle. The others faltered and released their Pokémon willingly. To most of the younger ones, even the thought of a legendary dragon was too overwhelming, and their resolves had not yet strengthened through their short journeys. At any rate, the use of Pokeballs was disabled by a mysterious device, which prevented trainers from fighting back, even if they had chosen to do so. The grunts under the sages used handheld devices to ascertain the presence of a trainer's Pokemon within a Pokeball, and systematically checked them with their files and trainer ID.

Of course, Plasma's new approach with cautiousness didn't end there. Ghetsis had personally come to collect his Pokémon. That man unnerved him, but despite his misgivings there was nothing Touya could do. Ghetsis had spoken condescendingly towards him, as he always had, but his final words towards him sent a chill up his spine.

"This is the end. I win."

Touya was snapped out of his reverie as the lifeless monitors of his television changed into the now-familiar P and Z of Team Plasma's logo.

"A broadcast?" Bianca asked worriedly. The previous broadcast had begun without any delay or static. It wasn't surprising that she was not expecting it.

"Now?" Cheren raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

'This is not going to be good,' Touya thought.

Unfortunately, he was right.

Ghetsis stood at the head of the throne room, features impassive as he placed his hands on his sceptre. The film camera that was angled towards him did not faze him. Instead, it made him seem more imposing and collected then ever before. Lines of Team Plasma members flanked both sides of the large hall. He raised his hand, eyeing the camera before him, ready to address the public with a strong speech.

"People of Unova," he began, "we have now been united in liberating our Pokemon and creating a separate world where they can live without the interference of foolish humans."

Ghetsis' voice suddenly began to tremble with anger. "However, rebel factions have attempted to fight us every step of the way, until the final, decisive battle of truth and ideals. There, King N won, proving the verity of his assertions, and the righteousness of his truth."

His mouth returned itself into its ever-present frown. "But we did not leave the battle unscathed," he stated. "N's mind has been thoroughly tainted by the voices of hideous demons, and has let his mind consider the very idea of allowing impure humans to visit the Pokémon, and let them suffer once again."

Ghetsis made a show of clenching his fist. 'The nefarious N is no longer fit to be the king of Team Plasma," he nearly snarled, voice rising. "He has betrayed my – no, Team Plasma's cause, and he will be shown no mercy!" He breathed deeply, seeming like an attempt to quell his emotions. "Today," he announced, "the traitor will be executed!"

His cry was met with significant approval from those in the room as he raised his sceptre, listening to their cheers.

"Let this be a lesson to all of you – the citizens of Unova! All who oppose us and threaten the peace will be punished!" Ghetsis shouted.

"Plasmaaaa!" the grunts yelled out in response. They were currently clad in black material in the form of a jumpsuit, hat and vest, seemingly for the purpose of practicality, the only resemblance to their former uniforms being the logo.

Ghetsis gestured to the two grunts closest to him. "Bring him in."

The grunts exited the room with a quick bow, their ginger hair covering their faces as they lowered their heads. They soon returned with a young man covered by a long white cloak, which just as easily could have been any other regular teenager, but for his messy tea-green coloured hair tied in a ponytail.

If not for them supporting his weight as he entered the room, his limp and battered body would have given up to its innate desire to simply collapse onto the ground, not enduring the short walk. His arms and legs beneath the cloak were currently restrained, but even if he had thought to escape he would not have been able to go anywhere alone.

N sagged under Ghetsis' intense gaze as the grunts brought him to kneel before the man in question.

"From this day forth, I will be the leader of Team Plasma. I will not waver in my determination and will not be swept away by liars." Ghetsis proclaimed.

The shout of "Plasma!" again came from a chorus of cries.

N struggled against the restraints, but was too weak to have any impact. "So you planned this all from the very beginning…" he murmured. He had placed blind faith into Ghetsis, despite his misgivings about humans, and had assumed that someone who fought for the same cause as he did had to be good. It seemed that he could not have been more wrong.

"No matter what…" N stated, "no one will surrender ourselves for you to control!" He never raised his voice, but this was as close as he had come, something that was significant only to those who knew him.

The grunts dutifully stepped aside as Ghetsis drew closer to his foster son, forcefully lifting his chin and digging his fingers into the already visible bruises on N's neck. N refused to show any sign of pain in his expression, but Ghetsis knew. "My dear boy…" Ghetsis whispered, looking deep into N's defiant eyes. "Could it be that you've forgotten?" he taunted. "All of Unova is your enemy, and even if they weren't, no one has any means to fight us. You made sure of that."

Again, Ghetsis found himself staring at N's expression, looking to see the hint of something broken inside him. And yet, what was apparent was the fire still blazing within his eyes.

Annoyed, Ghetsis hissed, "Even if you choose not to believe it," he smiled menacingly, "It's 'Game Over', N."

He turned, and with a snap of his fingers, a grunt passed him the golden ceremonial sword. It shone with an almost magical brilliance in the sunshine, too beautiful for the purpose for which it was created. Ghetsis weighed it in his hand, getting a feel for the blade. Today, he would be the executioner.

Knowing that he had to say something, N spoke softly, in an attempt to address the crowd beyond that room. He spoke with a genuine sense of sorrow, and although not with the same strength that Ghetsis used to convince, his words had just as much impact. N was strangely calm, especially amongst the high tensions currently within the room.

"People of Unova…" he began musing, "I am sorry for what occurred. I was wrong. You were right… about everything. It seems there were far more good trainers than I thought, than I ever opened my eyes to… The Pokémon truly do love you. There is no doubt that it is your right to see them…" N continued, "I can't apologise enough… for the current state of the region; for what it has become. I have not seen the outside world properly with my own eyes… but I hope that you will keep fighting to make it a better place than it is now."

Ghetsis raised the blade high as he had held the golden crown on the day of N's crowning ceremony, and the people within the room fell into complete silence. After this moment, everything would be brought to a close in the way it had begun.

N closed his eyes in a quick reminiscence, briefly realising it that it could be interpreted as a sign of weakness, but even with the lack of fear, it seemed natural.

He reopened his eyes. "This is the end for me, but there are still infinite possibilities for those of you out there… Dream your dream… Make them come true!"

"Goodbye!" N attempted a smile. He did not completely trust in the goodness of the people still out there, but at this moment, he needed to bet on them and the kind words of their Pokémon.

The blade arced through the air, ready to make the fatal incision.

Prologue 1 - End

Author's Note: This is the start of my first fanfiction... What do you think? I've actually never written any story, fanfiction or not, over 1000 words, so I'm quite happy that just the first part of the prologue could last for more than that. Anyway, any comments or advice would be very helpful, so I'd love it if you took the time to review.