The same streets... The same Ferris Wheel too.

I looked around the park. Nimbasa City looked more or less the same; all that really happened was that there was more land added.

"Funny, what little can change in two years," I remarked to myself.

"So you've been here before?"

The voice startled me just a bit, but nonetheless I turned around in a composed fashion. "Yes, I have," I replied civilly. The person was too tall for me to see, as the hood I was wearing blocked my upper vision. "And you are?"

"The gym leader, Elesa," she introduced civilly.

I looked up a bit, but my forehead was still shadowed. "E-Elesa? Dang, what did you do to your hair?"

She blinked. Clearly, she didn't recognize me. "Have we met before?"

"M-More or less," I told her. "I challenged your gym in the past, but I doubt you would remember me; I was just a normal challenger.

Elesa started eyeing me a bit, so I lowered my head. Despite being well above her teenage years, she still seems to have grown a bit since I last saw her. She smiled. "Oh really? Perhaps I'd remember you if you weren't wearing that awfully large cloak," she retorted.

"I-I'm naked under here, so, uh... I'll just keep it on." A lie, but she didn't need to know that.

"Perhaps just the hood then?" she suggested. "Better I remember your face now, as opposed to when Emolga'nd can't remember anything," she said with a chuckle.

I turned my cheek so that she couldn't see me cringing. 'Did she take up comedy while I was gone? Because she's not very good...'

She feigned a sigh. "Oh well, I suppose some people just aren't very crowd-pleasing. Isn't that right," she claimed as she quickly swiped the hood off of my face before I could react, "Hilda?" She smirked.

I gave a late reaction slap to where her hand would've been, but obviously, it wasn't there any more. I quickly pulled the hood back over my head. I jerked my head left and right.

A few people looked my way, but fortunately, no one seemed to have identified me.

"You gave yourself away with the 'naked' line," claimed Elesa in a teasing tone. "But what are you doing with that crass article of clothing on? You aren't ugly, if that's your reason."

"I could care less how I look," I retorted, "but I just came back a few hours ago, and you don't have any idea how many people pestered me for a battle or to see Reshiram!" I vented in a low voice. "I basically started a riot in an alley in Castelia... Please, keep my return a secret!"

Elesa sighed. "But do you really have to wear that dirty old thing?

I pouted. Though she couldn't see my eyes, she knew that I was slightly irritated.

"Hm... Alright," she said hesitantly, "but you have to answer some questions of mine."

'Dang it... I was hoping to get started right away, but it can't be helped...' "Very well. Lead the way, your Highness."

"Here will be fine," she said, taking a seat on the bench next to me. "I doubt anyone will eavesdrop."

"Well, alright..." I replied unsurely, casually pulling the hood down a bit more.

"Luckily, we're in public, so I can't yell at you."

"I'll take my blessings."

"Where did you go?" she asked, levelling her voice. "Why'd you leave? Why didn't you tell anyone? Why're you back? And after so long? Does Cheren know that you're-"

"One at a time, Elesa," I cut in, sheepishly holding up a hand. I chuckled. "I went to the Sinnoh region, under the ex-champion Cynthia's recommendation," I explained. "You see, Ghetsis left me these three orbs, and Cynthia claimed that they were from the Sinnoh region."

Elesa nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So why is that so secretive?"

"It isn't," I admitted. "I just never saw a reason to bring it up. Plus, Xtranscievers don't work in other regions."

"But- Hmm... Finish first."

"I was using that as a guise to look for N," I admitted hesitantly. "I feel like... him leaving was my fault; letting him leave in such a bitter state was my mistake."

"But Alder and Cheren had forgiven him. And didn't you say that he left rather happy?"

"Yes, but... I still could have helped him somehow," I confided. "I didn't tell Alder or any of you because heck, I just became champion," I explained. "Everyone would've been against me leaving."

"I suppose..."

"I was actually supposed to come back as soon as I was done observing the orbs in Sinnoh, but it was then that I realized that I wanted to explore outside of Unova more, and I still didn't feel like I was ready to come back without N."

"Hilda... Do you have feelings for N?"

I shrugged. "Truth is, I don't know. As I started journeys in a plethora of regions, I ruminated on that fact. I definitely do like him as a friend, and that alone was enough to fuel my search, but..." I groaned. "I don't know how to explain it. After Ghetsis basically destroyed his spirit, I started to feel responsible for him. In what sense, I don't know, so I intended to find out, but..."

Elesa laid a supporting hand on my shoulder.

"I failed to find him," I stated ruefully. "Who knows what he's doing? If he's alone and hurting, it's my fault. Say Cheren or Bianca tried to take off; I'd probably convince him or her to stay before the takeoff, or even make my friend stay against his or her will, but... I let N go. Now I'm tortured with not knowing if he's happy with his decision or not."

Elesa stayed silent for a moment or two before grinning. "... Well, I did want to grill you more, but I just can't help it!" declared an ecstatic Elesa with a very cheeky grin. "Adding 'matchmaker' to my resume is just too tempting!"

"... What the heck are you going on about?"

"Two lovebirds reuniting after two years of searching for each other... Ah, Skyla would just die at such a story!"

"Hey, don't tell anyone else I'm here until I'm ready!" I snapped. "I promise, I'll tell'em all later, but please... let me do it myself so they won't kill me."

"But Hilda, they'll kill you either way..." pouted Elesa. "But back to the point; if you let me grill you later, I'll tell you just the info you need."

"Well, okay..." I replied with a lifted eyebrow.

"That Ferris Wheel there... I've heard that a certain green haired enigma shows up there every Friday."

'And today's Thursday...' My eyes widened. 'Did I finally find him?'

"I haven't seen him with my own eyes, but I only know of two people with green hair, and one of them is, well... senile."

'After two years...' I smiled; I stared at the Ferris Wheel with nostalgia. "Elesa, I don't know how to thank you... Except that if you're wrong, I'll have to kill you."

"..." Elesa scooted a bit away from me. "Yes, of course, but we have a deal; you still have an Xtransceiver, don't you? You call me as soon as your meetup is done."

I nodded. "Yes, of course."

Elesa giggled. "And don't worry, I won't wait u-uuAAAH!" Elesa fell off of the bench with a thump. "Ow!"

"Please, don't start rumors," I warned her with a coy smile.


Against Elesa's wishes, I still wore my cloak; I wouldn't want my reunion with a dear friend to be interrupted with the priorly used, "BATTLE ME WITH RESHIRAM!"

So ever since I woke up, which was ten minutes ago, I've been sitting on the same bench, waiting in the distance for that "green-haired enigma" to show up.

'Alright, so it's sunset. So what? I sleep in most of the time... maybe he'll still show up, or maybe I've missed him. Ugh... Only ten minutes in and the anxiety is killing me!' I impatiently kicked my legs, staring through the crowds of people.

And then I saw him; not his face, but his side profile weaving through the crowd and towards the Ferris Wheel. Two years and he had the same hat. Two years and he still wore the same attire. I wonder... has his face changed?

My heart pounded. 'It's finally time!' I practically bolted off of the bench and power walked my way through the crowd, muttering half-efforted apologies when cutting people off. I couldn't kill the grin I wore.

N's back was just a few arms' stretches away. He was staring up at the Ferris Wheel, like he was waiting for someone. Was that someone..?

I couldn't stop my smile from growing more. But then I stopped. He was turning.

"Rosa, you're here again," N said, a subtle smile on his lips.

A girl that made my trademark ponytail look puny twiddled with her fingers behind her back; she was standing on her toes and looked rather flustered. "Hehe... well of course I am! Riding alone is no fun, and as your friend, I have a duty to be here."

N looked straight at the Ferris Wheel; I couldn't see his face, but I can only assume that he was still smiling. "Right... So, shall we?"

"Rosa" faced the same way. "Of course! Just like every week."

And with that, they headed into the ride. I could see them through the glass, but neither of them were facing my direction as the ride headed up.

My eyes trailed their cart and I felt myself smile. 'N... I was chasing you because I was so sure that you still didn't trust humans. I didn't want you to be friendless and alone, but I clearly misjudged your trust.'

I turned around and started to walk away. 'The first time I rode this Ferris Wheel, you told me that you were the leader of a crime syndicate; then I tried to push you out of the cart once we hit the pinnacle of the ride. Since then, I tried to take you down, until Ghetsis made me realize that we had so much in common; then you left to be alone.'

I headed back for the same bench that I waited on, mindlessly weaving through the crowd and digging my Xtransceiver out of my bag. 'I thought you needed me, but you've found yourself a friend. I'm happy for you.' Then I cringed. 'But not for Elesa... I can already imagine the look on her face when I tell her that she can't add 'matchmaker' to her resume,' I thought with a mental chuckle.


End


Well, not sure if this is a oneshot or multi-chaptered, since I just typed the thing up on my phone... I'd be happy to continue this if people want it, but I kinda only wrote it for two reasons:

1) I wanted to assure my followers (or follower, I don't really know to be honest) that I wasn't dead.

2) I've been wanting to write other fics, but I don't have a computer anymore, so this was to keep me motivated until I get a new one.

If you want me continuing this as a multi-chapter fic and don't mind my half-baked attempt, leave a review telling me to keep going.