Panting, out of breath, White slowly climbed up the path into Nacrene city. So much had happened since she left Accumula town and she was exhausted. First thing was first, she had to get to a Pokemon center and get them healed, then she could worry about resting herself. The nurse at the Pokemon center noticed White's weary condition and suggested she relax at the nearby cafe, pointing her in the right direction. She thought that sounded perfect, so she headed over there. The cafe was small, but it was indeed relaxing. She ordered some juice to drink and sat down at one of the tables, where she began to mull over the events she had just experienced.
White managed to get her first gym badge in Striaton City, but soon after she was stopped by a friend of Professor Juniper's, Fennel, who asked her to go into the nearby Dreamyard and collect "Dream Mist" from the Pokemon that lives there. It didn't seem like a difficult task, so White decided to help out. She met up with Bianca along the way, but when the two entered the Dreamyard they were faced with members of Team Plasma who were bullying a poor Munna into giving up its Dream Mist. White and Bianca stood up against them and finally defeated them, but it enraged White to see people who were supposedly trying to save Pokemon from abuse, abusing them instead. Even worse, they tried to steal Bianca's Pokemon too! Well, White and Bianca somehow managed to get the Dream Mist for Fennel, but afterwards Team Plasma struck again and kidnapped a little girl's Pokemon from her! This time, Cheren and White both had to team up to defeat Team Plasma and get back the stolen Pokemon. She still couldn't believe that those jerks had accused her of making her Pokemon suffer. She always treats her Pokemon with the best love and care possible! How dare they bully poor, defenseless Pokemon, steal other peoples' beloved Pokemon, and then turn around and make her the bad guy! White scowled at her drink and grumbled to herself, still mad at those Team Plasma jerks. Suddenly she jumped to her feet and gathered her things. Sitting here grumbling wouldn't do any good, time to let off steam at the Pokemon gym.
White stormed over to the city's gym, which was apparently located inside a museum. Still steaming, she rushed into the museum but she was too lost in thought to notice the person exiting the building at the same time. The two of them collided and White was sent backwards, landing on her rear.
"Owww..." she winced, rubbing her hip. "I-I'm sorry I wasn't watching-" she stopped as she looked up and realized who she'd run into. There stood N, wearing a confused and pained expression on his face. White had completely knocked his baseball cap off, which he bent over to pick up, and then extended a hand to the fallen girl.
"Don't worry about it. Here." he helped her up and then finally the two managed to regain their composure. "So...have you come to challenge the gym leader?"
"I have but...I had better calm down first." She held her forehead in her hand. "I'm still all worked up and obviously not paying attention to what I'm doing...or where I'm going. Heheh."
"Worked up? Did something happen?" At this question, White seemed troubled so N led her to a nearby bench and asked her to sit with him and explain. She told him about her run-ins with Team Plasma and how their actions angered her. N listened to her troubles with a calm expression on his face, taking in everything she was saying, and when she had finished her story he finally spoke. "So I take it you don't like Team Plasma, then. You don't agree with them and think Pokemon should be free?"
"I don't like it when Pokemon are mistreated. But Team Plasma is going about it all wrong! Stealing Pokemon from trainers who really care about their Pokemon won't do any good for anyone. Yeah, there are trainers out there who abuse their Pokemon, and I would rather those Pokemon be free. But do we all really have to release our Pokemon even if they're our friends?" White paused and looked over at N to get his reaction, but he was staring at the ground, lost in deep thought. "N? What do you think? Do you agree with Team Plasma?"
N took a deep breath and looked at her seriously. "I... want to see things no one can see. The truths of Pokémon inside Poké Balls. The ideals of how Trainers should be. And a future where Pokémon have become perfect... "
"Perfect?"
"Pokemon can't be perfect as long as trainers use them selfishly. In order to be perfect, they must be equal with us humans. In order for us to be equal, all Pokemon must be free."
"You're starting to sound like that Ghetsis guy..." White swung her feet back and forth uncomfortably. "But you know, I think Pokemon can be perfect without being free. We just have to better teach people how to care for their Pokemon and understand their feelings. The way you do." N looked at her as if those words shocked him.
"But...no one can hear their voices. If the Pokemon can't be heard, then how...?"
"You saw my Oshawott back in Accumula town right? I gave him the option to leave and he clung onto my leg as if he was scared I would abandon him. Pokemon can get their feelings across even if we can't understand them." N chuckled and smiled gently.
"Amazing. You have such an understanding for your Pokemon even though you've only been with them a short while."
"Of course!" White smiled brightly. "They're my friends!" N looked surprised again, then laughed.
"Will you show me again, then? Your friendship. Let's have another battle." White happily obliged and the two readied themselves for a rematch. This time, N had 3 completely different Pokemon with him: a Pidove, a Timburr, and a Tympole. However, White had also gained two more Pokemon. She now had her Oshawott, an Audino, and a Pansear. Again, White and her Pokemon were perfectly in sync, executing moves perfectly and defeating N's entire team rather quickly. N smirked as if he had expected this. "Right now my friends aren't strong enough...I can't yet solve the equation that will change the world. I need...more power..." his voice trailed off as he sunk into his own thoughts and White looked at him questioningly. After a moment, he looked back up at her. "White, thank you. I think I understand what I must do now." He turned and motioned for his 3 Pokemon, whom White had already healed, to follow him and glanced back at her with a smile. "Good luck at the gym." and then he took off again. White sighed and turned to her Oshawott.
"He certainly is a mystery, isn't he? Always saying strange things and running off." She smiled to herself. "He's...a good guy though. He only wants what's best for Pokemon, even if he does have the wrong idea about trainers." Oshawott seemed to agree with her, which made her smile even more. She had completely forgotten that she was ever in a bad mood. "Hehe now let's see about that gym, shall we?"
