No More Charades

My mind is solely responsible for this spin on Sequelshipping, but the whole Pokémon franchise belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak forever and ever. Enjoy the show!

Act I: Exposition (Reminiscing)

Light cerulean eyes bore into his, glossy with the tears welling up in them. The uniform she wore, the very symbol of those he hated with all his might, was soiled with dirt and blood and also slightly torn from the battle. She was on her knees and held her wounded Snivy, Primrose, in her trembling arms. The small serpentine Pokémon bore bruises and cuts all over her little teal body, but the ghastliest wound was the bleeding gash below her left eye. His own Pokémon, his Oshawott, stood by his side, growling at the defeated two in front of them.

But her eyes haunted him…the pain, the heartache, and the guilt that could be easily read in those blue depths.

"I don't ever want to see you again…you're…you're the same as them." He spat every word.

Her lips trembled, as if on the verge of saying something.

But, nothing came out.

Instead, she got up quickly and dashed past him out of the clearing. In that brief moment, he could've sworn he heard her say in a broken sob.

"I'm sorry."

/

Hugh woke up with a start, sitting up in alarm. He looked around, finding himself in his sleeping bag in the middle of the forest just off Route 6. His Samurott was still snoozing next to him, unperturbed by his Trainer's abrupt awakening. He ran a hand through his spiky, navy blue hair with a small sigh.

This is the third time this week I've had this dream…I wonder where she is now.

His hands fisted a bunch of the sleeping bag. He kept having recurring dreams of that battle from four years back; it felt like it was a lifetime ago.

Mei...I want to see you.

Before this whole ordeal, he and Mei were originally childhood friends. They grew up next door to each other in Aspertia City and even attended Trainer's School together. They did everything together, always inseparable. During their last year of school, their relationship changed into a romantic one. Everything was sweet and innocent, typical teenage first love. Mei was so adorable with her blushes and shy smiles, and all were for him. For the short year they were together, they were happy and just enjoying life side by side.

Then, everything changed.

A few weeks after graduation, when he was playing with his little sister Hina and her Purrloin at Route 18. Their late grandfather had given Hina the Pokémon for her birthday and that was the very last gift she had received from him before he passed.

It was just an ordinary day of fun and games…until a group of Team Plasma members showed up.

Despite his best efforts to protect Hina and her Pokémon, he was easily swatted aside since he lacked a Pokémon of his own at the time. He could only watch in agonizing helplessness as Hina's beloved Purrloin was snatched from her.

And from that day on, he began to hate all of Team Plasma. He never told anyone the real reason behind his resentment…not even Mei. He was too ashamed to admit he was so weak that he couldn't protect those dearest to him.

Not long after the incident, he and Mei received their first Pokémon as Eggs from Mei's father, who was a traveling Pokémon doctor. He was given an Oshawott while Mei received a shiny Snivy. Once Oshawott was born, he began to train with his new partner vigorously in hopes of getting Purrloin back from the detestable band of thieves.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and a whole year flew by.

It was around that time when he had started to notice that Mei was going to Virbank City often, saying she joined some sort of club. At the time, he was too engrossed with training to really talk to her about it.

Until one day, he decided to go to Virbank City to get some supplies for his upcoming Pokémon journey. He had everything planned out: he would tell Mei the truth about Purrloin, ask her to go with him, and they would rescue Purrloin together.

When he reached the city, he saw a small group of Team Plasma grunts gathered by the entrance to the Virbank Complex. And to his outmost disbelief, he spotted Mei talking with them…wearing their uniform. From that moment on, all logical thought scattered to the winds. He kept his distance, keeping his eye on her until she started walking towards Route 18. Angry and downright betrayed, he tailed her. And once they were in the forest alone, he made his presence known to her. Mei instantly paled, her eyes widening in surprise.

The memories came back in a rush.

/

"Mei, you're with those people!?" He snarled.

"Hugh, I can explain…" Mei began to speak, but he cut her off with an impatient wave of his hand.

"There's nothing to explain! You're hanging out with a bunch of thieves! They steal people's Pokémon!"

She tensed. "That's not true! Team Plasma only seeks to free Pokémon from wicked people, those who abuse them!"

"They're liars as well as thieves!" He yelled.

Mei stared down at her feet, avoiding his eyes.

"Since they're your new friends, perhaps you know where Purrloin is?" he asked her.

Mei met his eyes again with a confused look on her face. "What? What do you mean, Purrloin?"

"Don't play games with me, Mei! You must know where she is!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Hugh!" She cried.

He did not believe her one bit. "Your precious Team Plasma stole something from someone very important to me: a Purloin with golden eyes! That's the only Purrloin in the world that my late grandpa caught for my little sister!"

Disbelief replaced her confusion. "Hina's Pokémon was stolen by Team Plasma? I don't believe that! They would never take a Pokémon from an innocent child like Hina! You told me Purrloin just disappeared!"

Hearing her defend the loathsome group only irked him further. He was angry that she would associate herself with such people willingly. But, he also felt hurt because he thought he knew her to be better than that. Such emotions were waging war in him, and the resentment ended up winning in the end.

And that anger would fuel his next actions.

The next thing he knew, he challenged his girlfriend to a Pokémon battle.

Mei was downright horrified, shaking her head in refusal, but Hugh wouldn't have it. He sent Oshawott out. "Battle me, Mei! I will have you tell me where Purrloin is!"

In the end, Mei reluctantly gave in and sent out her Snivy.

/

The battle was brief but brutal. Oshawott, under his orders, showed little mercy on Primrose. He faintly noticed Mei's hesitation, but he was too angry to care. Oshawott emerged victorious by slashing Primrose, who tried dodging at the last second, with a vicious Razor Shell. The attack got her small face, injuring her left eye.

Their battle ended, along with their relationship, and that was the last time he saw her for a long while. He heard her parents cut off all contact with her after learning of what she had done and she never showed her face around Aspertia was always in his mind, despite everything that had happened between them. He was still infuriated with her, and with Team Plasma. He continued training Oshawott and the other Pokémon he caught to get Purrloin back, and the time passed by.

A few years later, Hugh heard Team Plasma was disbanded but a new one emerged in its place, and he was still searching for Purrloin. He was looking around Virbank Complex, where he heard rumors of Team Plasma activity, when he found a lone grunt. Hugh wanted answers and the man was more than ready to battle him when someone intercepted.

And not even in his wildest imagination would've foreseen it would be Mei.

She wore the new Team Plasma uniform and her face was a mask of cold indifference. The bright and expressive eyes he had loved so much were gone, substituted by a pair of icy blues that shook him to the core: there was no trace of the loving and cheerful girl in this stranger. And the way she battled him…she did not hesitate one bit, unlike their battle from long ago. She and Primrose obliterated him and his Pokémon. And just when he thought she was going to steal his unconscious partners, she let him go instead…and that confused the hell out of him.
The day after, he was wandering around Virbank City, trying to think of another way to get Purrloin back when the most unexpected thing happened…

/

He was pacing back and forth in front of the Pokémon center, deep in thought, when her voice called out to him.

"Hugh."

Startled, he sharply turned around to see her standing there. She didn't have her uniform on, looking startlingly different from the night before; she looked like a regular girl. Her expression was soft yet her eyes were faintly distant and guarded.

"What do you want?" his question came out a little too callused, even to his own ears.

Mei was unruffled by his tone, for she merely reached into the pink and white tote bag she carried, pulled out a single Poké Ball, and held it out to him.

"Here." she spoke softly. "I don't know how she might react upon seeing you, given that she has evolved and all…"

It took him a few seconds to figure out what was inside that ball, and the force of the realization knocked the wind out of his lungs in one swift whoosh.

It was Purloin…evolved, but Mei had Hina's precious Pokémon.

He took the Poké Ball from her, still stupefied. His mouth muscles were paralyzed from the shock, he couldn't articulate a single syllable. A hundred questions raced in his head, trying to make sense of what she had done in the past and what she did just now. For what seemed like hours, he just stood there gawping at her.

Her visage was the exact opposite of his current state of mind. Her eyes didn't waver from his but her lips stayed in a straight line while her posture was disturbingly serene, giving no hints of being affected by the awkward ambiance between them. But then, a sudden strong gust blew into them, interrupting the tension. They both saw a large ship emerging from the complex area, steadily ascending into the clouds.

"Oh no, they're on the move. I better go help Touko and the others." he heard Mei say right as she took out another Poké Ball from her bag and released a Swanna.

He gathered his wits and spoke up. "That was Team Plasma in that ship, wasn't it?"

She gave a quick nod. "Yeah, and it looks like they're heading to Nimbasa City. I need to go help my friends fend them off." She climbed onto her Swanna's back.

"Wait!" He cried out.

She paused and looked at him, her calm mien faltered with wonder.

He wanted the answers to those questions that were bugging him, and take revenge on Team Plasma for what they had done to his sister Hina…and his relationship with Mei.

"I'm coming with you."

/

Together, they helped out Mei's friends and defeated the Team Plasma grunts. Hugh and Mei took on the head of the group there, a woman named Delia, and her partner. Mei had told him that she was the one who had stolen Purrloin, and Hugh didn't hesitate in expressing his fury through his battle. But, after the events in Nimbasa, Mei simply disappeared from his life once more.

Now, it has been about seven months since then…and he still wanted answers. Hugh had been traveling all over Unova in the hopes of finding Mei, but nothing thus far. Sighing heavily, he got up, woke up his Samurott, gathered his things, and continued his trek down Route 6 and into Driftveil City. The once-quiet city was rapidly becoming a financial magnet, due to the Gym Leader Clay's mining success. Hotels were being built, the small market was being expanded, and the old Cold Storage was demolished with a new, large compound being developed for trainers to come and show off their skills as well as their Pokémon's…the Pokémon World Tournament.

Hugh decided to stop at the market to gather supplies for his ongoing journey, needing more Repels and Full Heals. He was paying the kind clerk for the items when he overheard two men conversing both gruffly and loudly behind him.

"I still find it appalling that Clay has not shut down that damn, rundown house of a Pokémon lost-and-found center at the top of the hill!" said the first man.

"And to think those Pokémon are in those Team Plasma scums' hands! Why is that place still there anyway?" asked the second man.

"Because they are supposedly former members of Team Plasma, and not to mention both Clay and the Champion attest that their intentions are good." The first man shook his head in disgust.

That got Hugh's attention. A Pokémon lost-and-found center run by ex-Team Plasma people?

"Excuse me." he said to the two older men. "Do you know where this lost-and-found center is?"

The second man eyed him warily. "It's on the hill north of the Pokémon Gym. But be careful, lad, those people aren't trustworthy."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Hugh answered before taking off to his new destination.

As he approached the large house, he grew nervy. He wasn't sure if it would lead to Mei, but it was worth a shot. He stood in front of the building and one would've never guessed it was owned by former Team Plasma members. It made of dark red bricks with a pale gray brick roof and very tall. Primrose bushes lined the front of the building, and he saw a small sign on front door that read:

Primrose Pokémon Lost-And-Found Center

It didn't strike him as coincidence that the place was named after Mei's Serperior.

He brought up a hand and knocked on the door.

He just stood there, waiting for what felt like an eternity, before the door opened and an elderly man stood in the doorway. His white mustache curled on both ends as he smiled at Hugh.

"Good day, welcome to Primrose Pokémon Lost-and-Found Center. My name is Rood, are you searching for your missing Pokémon, young man?" he greeted him warmly.

Hugh was taken back for a moment. Would've never guessed this man worked for Team Plasma. "Um, I'm Hugh. Actually, I'm looking for…my friend; her name is Mei. Do you know her?"

The man cocked an eyebrow. "Mei? Well, I do know her. She lives here and helps out in the center, but she is out of town at the moment."

Hugh hesitated. "I…see. I wanted to thank her for finding a Pokémon I've been searching for a long time."

Rood's eyes lit up. "Ah! You must the boy that was missing a Purrloin!"

"You know about that?" The spiky-haired man was stunned.

"Why, yes. You are the very reason why this place exists. Didn't she tell you?"

What? Hugh was confused by the older man's statement.

Rood must've read his confusion, for he gave him a sheepish smile. "Oh my, looks like you will need to come on in." he stepped out of the way and Hugh entered the house.

Rood led him to the living room and Hugh took a seat on an armchair. Rood sat down across from him, his expression suddenly solemn. "First of all, I would like to apologize for the grief Team Plasma caused you and for the thievery of your Pokémon. Mei, other former members, and myself have been working for months in making amends for all the problems that our previous leader, Sage Ghetsis, had caused all these years." He bowed his head.

Hugh was surprised to realize that not only did he not have any resentment to this peculiar former member of Team Plasma, but actually felt calm in the man's presence. "It's OK. All that matters is that I got Purrloin, well…now Liepard, back."

"I am glad to hear that. You know, Mei spent years tracking down that Pokémon for you."

Hugh's eyed broadened with surprise upon hearing that revelation. "She…did?"

"I've known Mei since she first joined Team Plasma; she was assigned to my group. She brought fresh energy to what I thought was a just cause back then. Until one day, her Pokémon Primrose was severely injured in a battle. The poor girl was in tears, cradling Primrose in her arms. After that battle, something changed in her."

All of a sudden, that heart-wrenching look from that day flashed through his mind. Guilt twisted his gut, as well as regret, for what he had done to both Mei and Prim.

"That fateful day when the first Team Plasma fell, she confessed to me that she had stayed in our group in order to find a specific Pokémon for a friend. I was shocked, of course. Up to that point, she had been acting like a loyal grunt in the ranks, tending to the Pokémon that Team Plasma stole. When I was trying to figure out a way to fix Ghetsis's mess, Mei suggested returning the stolen Pokémon. Some Pokémon remained and we were unable to locate their Trainers, so Mei had the idea of setting up a place where we would take care of those Pokémon while posting missing posters for Trainers to see."

The more he heard, the more unsettled he became.

But, Rood was not finished just yet.

"But, Mei still had not found the Pokémon she was looking for. When the new Team Plasma appeared, she volunteered to work as a double agent to find out their motives and find the Pokémon. In the end, she succeeded in both." Rood smiled. "I admire that girl; it takes a lot of self-discipline and determination to lead two separate identities the way she did."

To Hugh, the revelations just kept piling up. So…that night at Virbank Complex, I was battling her false identity. He was dumbstruck at the thought of it; the girl he battled at that time was the polar opposite of Mei.

And not once did she lose face in front of him.

"You said she is out of town, do you know where she went?" he inquired.

"Yes, she is at Pokéstar Studios. Tonight is the premier party for a film she is debuting in; it's called The Swanna Princess."

So she works as an actress? After what I just heard, it doesn't surprise me much. "Thank you, for everything." Hugh said.

Sage Rood nodded with another gentle smile. "My pleasure, young man."

/Pokéstar Studios, nighttime/

Hugh adjusted his red tie, trying to get some additional room to breathe. It was a hassle to find a place that he could rent out a tux at the last minute, but luck was on his side. The theater still had a few tickets left due to the fact, according to the ticket clerk anyway, it was a B rated film with only two well-known actors in it: Icirrus's Gym Leader, Brycen, and a very popular TV idol named Curtis.

He waited in line with the rest of the crowd in front of the theater, hoping to catch Mei, when he overheard the loud and eager chatter of the couple in front of him.

"So, how did you hear about this movie?" The man asked his dressed-up date.

"Well, I'm a huge Brycen fan, no matter what movie he is in! But, I did hear that the young lady he's co-starring with is quite lovely! It's her big debut, you know." The woman said.

She must be talking about Mei.

"I see. I also heard the Champion herself is coming to this event!" The man said excitedly.

"Oh my, that's exciting! I saw her battle at the Unova Poké-Tournament months ago, she's so cool!"

"Agreed! So, how long are going to wait out here anyway?"

The woman chuckled at the man. "Patience. The actors and the VIPs have to arrive first, since they get to go in first and all."

Seeing the couple interact in such a carefree manner instilled envy in Hugh. If things had been different for Mei and me back then, would we be acting like them now? Holdings hands, just laughing and enjoying being with each other?

He found himself wishing for that.

"Oh! There they are!" The woman's happy squeal brought him back to reality. He followed the crowd's gaze just in time to see a white limo pull up in front of the theater. The door opened and his heart stopped the moment he saw the person that came out.

She looked like a princess, wearing a white gown with light blue feathers over the bust. Golden rhinestones lined the feathers and trailed down to a light blue brooch on her navel. White feathers lined the separated sleeves of her gown with a light blue fabric that layered the hem of the sleeves. A small silver tiara adorned her head with white folded wings at each end.
The girl right before his eyes was Mei, he could recognize her telltale pigtails anywhere, but she didn't look like any ordinary girl tonight.

She looked like a woman… a very beautiful and captivating woman.

His eyes followed her until she disappeared into the theater, vaguely noticing the remaining actors and the VIPs that followed her.

Then, the doors opened for the rest of the public and everyone took their seats. He looked around for any signs of her, but found none. Feeling slightly dejected, he looked at his ticket. A Swanna appeared in the front, spreading its wings gracefully, with the silhouette of a woman behind it. And judging by the pigtails, he figured it was Mei.

He couldn't shake off the uneasiness at all. He felt like he didn't know Mei at all anymore, seeing that she took in a completely different life with her run with Team Plasma, serving as a spy, and her acting job.

The lights dimmed, indicating it was time for the film to begin. Hugh put away his ticket and forced his focus on the gigantic screen.

The Swanna Princess told the tale of a prince that was lost and wandered into an enchanted forest one day. When the prince came upon a lake, he saw a large number of Swanna playing in the water. Since nighttime was quickly approaching, he decided to spend the night by the lake. He kept watching the playful Swanna until the full moon appeared. That was when he witnessed one Swanna being engulfed a bright light, revealing a young woman in a blue and white gown. The beautiful stranger introduced herself as Princess Odette, who was put under a spell by an evil wizard. She was taken from her own kingdom when she was a child and cursed to be a Swanna by day and human at night. And the only way for Odette to be free of her curse was to destroy the evil wizard's spell book.

Touched by the princess's plight, he agrees to help her. As the days pass in their search of the wizard, the prince and the princess fall for each other.

As he watched the film, Hugh was entranced by Mei's acting, from her saddest expressions to her breathtaking smiles that mirrored her joy. She plays the princess role really well, he noted.

In the climax of the movie, the wizard finds out of their quest and captures the princess in her Swanna form. He then tries to kill the prince by disguising himself as Odette, claiming that she found the book and destroyed it. Fearing for the prince's life, Odette calls out to the other Swanna for help. At first, the prince falls for the trick, until he sees that her personality did not match with the girl that he fell in love with.

The wizard, being called out on his lie, almost kills the prince when Odette, in her Swanna body, intercepts and is stabbed in the prince's stead.

The angry Swanna, with the prince's help, attack the wizard and his Pokémon and destroy the book. Odette is healed by the magic of her broken spell and confesses her love for the prince. Hugh watched with disbelieving eyes as Mei, or Princess Odette, wrapped her arms around the prince and kissed him. His hands tightened on the armrests of his chair, turning his knuckles white, as he seethed with red-hot anger. He didn't like how the prince leaned in for a second kiss or the way his arms circled her waist one bit.

When the last scene ended, everyone in the theater stood up and applauded wildly. Hugh stood up, but was too angry to stay any longer. Fuming, he stormed out of the theater for he couldn't get that kiss out of his mind. Even as he flew back home to Aspertia City, he kept thinking of the scene.

The next day, his mood had not improved. He got dressed and headed downstairs, finding himself home alone.

That's right, Mom and Dad are at work and Hina is at the Trainer's School. He plopped down on the couch and looked up at the ceiling.

Why can't I forget about that kiss? Why does it bother me so much? Mei is not my girlfriend anymore…so I don't have the right to get this pissed off about it. He heaved a heavy sigh, putting an arm over his eyes.

Who the hell am I kidding? It pisses me off a lot. I don't want any other guy to hug her or kiss her the way I used to do.

Last night was a harsh reminder of what he had lost all those years ago. And it hurt, it hurt him a lot. He still loved her, after all this time and everything that happened between them, he still cared for her. He was angry at her before because he thought she betrayed him, but…

You never told her the truth about Purrloin. If you had, things would've been different, a small voice badgered him.

And that was nothing but the truth.

If I had been honest with Mei about that, maybe she wouldn't have joined Team Plasma at all…

He paused.

Why did she join them in the first place?

Back when all he could think about was getting Purrloin back, he didn't bother to stop and think about that at all; he was too furious and wounded at the time to give it the time of day. Maybe he didn't fully understand Mei now, but he knew she had a kind heart. She would never steal a Pokémon from anyone, she didn't have it in her to do such a deed.

Then, it became clear that there were two questions that he wanted…no, needed to know the answers to.

The reason why she joined Team Plasma the first time, and another important question…

Can she forgive me for everything and love me again?

Given what he had done to her Pokémon and the hurtful things he said to her, he wasn't sure she would ever forgive him.

"You know, Mei spent years tracking down that Pokémon for you." Rood's words came to him, cashing away the uncertainty and giving him a sliver of hope.

With his new goal in sight, he fetched his things and set out for Driftveil City.

/Driftveil City/

Hugh landed in front of the Pokémon Center and withdrew Unfezant back into her Poké Ball. He was nearing the house on the hill when he saw a Swanna fly out of the house in a rush…with Mei on its back.

Mei! He watched her and her Pokémon quickly disappear into the clouds.

Where is she going in such a hurry? He sprinted towards the house and knocked on the door frantically. Maybe that man Rood knows.

"Hello? Mr. Rood!" he called out.

The door opened, revealing Rood and a female Team Plasma grunt that was bound to a chair behind him. The scene made him arch a brow at the older man. "What happened?"

"Oh, her?" Rood gestured at the woman. "She broke in, trying to steal the Pokémon in our care, when Mei fought her off."

"I saw Mei taking off with her Swanna. Where did she go? Please, tell me."

"She's heading to Relic Castle to apprehend Colress, a scientist that worked with Ghetsis." Rood's aged face was weighty with distress. "I told her to contact Miss White and Lord N for assistance, but she insisted she could handle this on her own. Please, go help her. The man she is up against is very dangerous." he begged.

"No need to tell me twice, I'm going after her. Thank you." Hugh sent out his Unfezant once more and climbed onto her back. "Unfezant, head for Relic Castle and double your speed! We must catch up to Mei!"

Unfezant screeched and promptly took off from the ground. Hugh held on tight as they sped across the sky towards the Desert Resort.

Now…it's my turn to help you.

Author's Note:
Act 1 out of 3 is done! So now we know what happened between Hugh and Mei in the past. Now, Hugh is out to make things right with Mei. But, what awaits them inside Relic Castle? What is Colress up to now? Let me know what you thought of this spin-off through a review, I love the feedback! Stay tuned for Act II!
-Mistress Ness