When Hilbert stepped down the stairs, he briefly stopped. His eyes looked up from his feet and the majestic view momentarily ceased his breathing.

Most of the Pokemon League was still surrounded by the castle that rose from beneath the earth itself and stood taller than the league as well.

But all that remained now were ruins.

As a long breeze blew, he breathed inwardly. The sight of Unova blooming in front of him as the sun rose – he couldn't have had a better view. But that feeling of loneliness stayed and he could not help but wish that he could have avoided everything that had happened.

Today, he was the new champion and a hero of Unova region – but the price he had to pay was too high for him.

Adjusting his cap with one hand, he clutched the strap of his bag tighter. When his eyes opened and he looked ahead, afar he saw police cars lined up and several members of Team Plasma in their custody.

A lot of them were struggling but – surprisingly – half of them seemed fazed as if something terrible had happened.

He could not help but notice a certain man.

Wearing a long, brown robe was an old man – one of those seven people that he had met on occasions throughout his journey.

Rood... He wondered. The man was a sage of Team Plasma. But now looking at that expression, Hilbert could not help but wonder – could it be... was he used as well?

All his thoughts faded when he felt a strong presence behind him. Somewhat startled, he looked back and up and noticed the black dragon hovering out of the league. Zekrom landed and stood behind him. But the look of contemplation that he kept giving him – Zekrom felt an urge to look down at the boy.

The legendary dragon leaned down, its head nearly nuzzling against the young boy. It breathed out, a low growl rang around as well. And at that moment, Hilbert recalled, Zekrom indeed was one monster with its shape and size. But when won over – the dragon was kinder and more loyal than anyone else.

Hilbert could not help but felt an urge to rub its head. Zekrom seemed startled. It looked at Hilbert with its red and fierce eyes – but Hilbert was too lost in his own thoughts to notice the dragon.

Zekrom did not bother to push him away either.

Would N be safe with Reshiram?

The thought just randomly came up.

And as if it had already read his mind, Zekrom nudged its giant, black head against the boy. Hilbert wasn't just startled but nearly fell down. He had to grip harder. That's when Zekrom arose and lifted him up.

Hilbert found himself panicking. The height wasn't too much, but indeed it felt dangerous at that moment. Somehow balancing himself, Hilbert found himself lying on Zekrom's back.

Zekrom took off without a second thought and Hilbert found himself reaching out for it. He hugged himself tighter against the giant dragon. Never had he ridden a dragon before, let alone a legendary.

But now that he thought about it –

how lucky am I?

As they passed over the land, Hilbert's eyes briefly looked down. Everyone was looking at him, whether it be the police or Team Plasma. Among them, however, he noticed a familiar face, and as their shadow loomed over them, for a moment he thought – her pink hair looks great.

No sooner the new champion of Unova was long gone from their sight.


Hilbert sighed when he opened his eyes; everything seemed to vanish at that moment. He blinked, his hazy vision slowly returning to him and he noticed the sky up above.

His hands were all supporting him as he sat on the grassy field.

"My dream is my ideal, huh?" he whispered – N's words ringing in his head again.

In the far distance was the sun. Just looking at it like that – he felt an urge to hold it. His hand moved towards it and started grasping it. A feeling started washing over him. His body tensed up and he shivered. His mouth opened slightly as he breathed.

The clouds in the sky formed a distinct figure. Long hair and the familiar cap over his head – Hilbert puffed the air out. The image vanished from his sight as if it wasn't there at the first place. He fell on his back and his arms crossed behind his head.

"...why do you keep confusing me?"

Hilbert continued to stare at the clouds, the image slowly fading away from his sight as the clouds moved. His eyes lowered and he let out a long, shaky breath. His throat instantly became dry and he fought against the urge to let it all out. Holding the rim, he pulled his cap down, covering his eyes.

But the cap was instantly pulled over, leaving his hand right there. His eyes were wide and mouth agape in surprise, but with a lone tear present in the corner of his eye, his expression became completely unreadable.

"M-Mom?" Hilbert could not help but gasped when his mother's blue eyes came into his vision. Her brown hair – as usual – was tied into a bun from behind and two strands of her hair were hanging down her face as she looked down at him. "W-What are you doing...?" Hilbert asked his voice hitched slightly as he spoke.

"I just wanted to check on you," his mother said. Hilbert sighed and sat up again, wiping his arm over his eyes. His mother sat next to him – when suddenly he felt a nudge on his left side. When he looked down, he saw Samurott nuzzling his head against him. "He wanted to come here too."

Hilbert's lips curled into a small smile at those words and he wrapped his arm around the water Pokémon's neck, rubbing his skin.

When Samurott let out a delighted cry, Hilbert's mother smiled, but when she looked back at her son, her expression changed.

Hilbert's smile dropped suddenly. Even his hand stopped moving. Samurott looked up as well and a look of concern overtook him as he saw the uncertain expression on his trainer's face.

"What is wrong, Hilbert?"

Hilbert bit his bottom lip and gently shut his eyes, breathing in. But he felt courage less the very next moment. He could not bring himself to let it out.

Hilbert's eyes opened suddenly when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned back and looked at his mother – a surprised expression was all he could present.

"It's about your friend, isn't it?"

Hilbert gasped. His mouth opened agape and his eyes widened. His mother giggled slightly at his expression and ruffled his hair.

"...and you didn't even feel like sharing it with me?"

"But...how?"

That was all he could let out, a whisper was all that his mother heard from him.

"I'm your mother Hilbert, you can't hide anything from me," she said and sighed. For a moment Hilbert only stared at her. An expression that of bewilderment and astonishment was present on his face. But as she looked at him, his mother could not help but laugh. "Bianca told me."

"That girl..." Hilbert muttered under his breath and looked away.

"You know Hilbert," his mother started, "Your father left when you were really young." Hilbert stared at her, confused. What could have prompted her to bring something like this at the moment? He wondered. "He went on a journey and... he never came back. I missed him a lot, really. But back then, I had you...so I was okay."

When Samurott laid his head on his left thigh, Hilbert looked down as well. He placed his hand over his skin and started rubbing it.

"...but then you grew up, and left." It was then he noticed the shallowness in her voice – but he did not find the courage to look at her. "One whole year, you stayed away. And I missed you, too. But I knew it, that every boy must go one day..."

"Mom..." Hilbert turned to his mother, a small whisper coming from his mouth. His mother shook her head with a soft smile, her hair swaying along as well.

"...no, don't worry about it," she said with a small laugh. "I'm actually proud of you. You have accomplished so much in just a year, maybe now I see why your father left. He is proud of you too, you know that?"

Hilbert opened his mouth to say something but found himself speechless. As if finding his expression funny, her mother laughed again. And she – indeed – read what was going on in his mind.

"You want to find him, don't you?"

Hilbert turned his eyes away and stared at his lap again. He felt ashamed. Am I that easy to read? Am I that desperate? Do I really want to go...leaving mom again? He could not help but felt words echoing in his mind.

"I don't really mind, Hilbert," his mother spoke again. At that moment, Samurott opened his eyes and looked up at his trainer as well, a familiar glint in his eyes, just like the one in his mother's eyes. He was encouraging him as well. "Just promise me..." Hilbert felt her hand on his shoulder as she gave a comforting squeeze. He looked up at her. "...you will come back to me again."

"I-I... I promise..." Hilbert hesitated and his mother laughed again. And at that moment, he realized why it was a dilemma for him to make the decision. He was afraid that he would never be able to return, that he would miss his mother again.

His mother ruffled his hair and quietly placed the red cap on his head.

"And I don't think I have to worry about you, do I?" her mother continued, and then looked over at Samurott. "Promise me you will look after him," she said to the water type.

"Samurott!" Samurott let out a loud cry, his head bobbed up and down.

"...and you too," she looked behind them, her smile still present as she spoke in her motherly tone.

Hilbert pulled the rim of his cap down. He could feel Zekrom looking at him from behind. And as much as it surprised him that Zekrom did respond to his mother with a slight roar, he could not help but feel his face heating up – because Zekrom sounded very amused.

"Mom...!" He could not help but hissed and heard her mother laughing again.

He would indeed miss her.


A day late, but hopefully, not too long. Personally, this is my favorite chapter of the story. Giving an insight of Hilbert's mind is something I have always wanted to do after all - so N wasn't supposed to be the only character involved. And then you guys did read the one-shot A Champion's Ideal, didn't you? In case you didn't, I suggest you should. That is basically a part of this short story and, precisely, set right between this and the next chapter and features a not-too-brief conversation between Anthea and Hilbert.

Looking back at it, I might tweak that one-shot a bit to match the plot and pace of this story as much as possible.

Well, regardless of everything, I hope you did enjoy it. So please, leave a review. I'd appreciate that. I will see you this Saturday!

-Sam.