Bianca was the first to reach where Route one begins, she looked forward with a sunny demeanor, "All right! Let's take our first step into Route one together!"

Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca stood in a perfect horizontal line at the edge of the Nuvema Town border. They had their arms locked like a human barrier.

"Hilda! Cheren! On the count of three! One… two… three!" the adventurers trotted with confidence into Route one, their figures being silhouetted by the morning light. Brightly colored flowers aligned the dirt path, cherry blossom petals twirled gracefully through the sky, carried by the wind.

"Oh my gosh! I wonder what will happen next! This is sooooo exciting!" Bianca cried with joy.

Hilda nodded, "It's so cool to finally get to explore farther than the town boarder line!"

"It sure is!" Cheren agreed, "Come on, Accumula Town is just down the road. Let's keep going."

The three adventurers continued down the path arm in arm. Hilda's long, chestnut-brown ponytail trailed behind them, bouncing freely in the wind and shining bright and lustrous in the sunlight.

"Hey Hilda, didn't your brother go on a journey once?" Bianca asked.

"Yeah, Hilbert went on a journey when he was fourteen."

"He did become the champion didn't he?" Cheren inquired.

"Yes he did, but he had taken a break from that."

Hilbert is Hilda's sixteen year old brother, two years earlier he left on a journey with his Lillipup. After becoming the champion, he decided that his true desire was to travel, not await challenges in the Pokémon League.

"He travels around with Iris now." Hilda continued, "A girl he had met during his travels."

"Ohhhh, I know who you're talking about. That's the girl with the purple hair who trains dragon-types right?"

"Yeah that's her."

"Those two are sooooo close! It totally has to make you wonder-"

"Come on, Accumula Town is just down the road let's go." Cheren interjected, before walking quickly down the road.

"Cheren wait up!" Hilda went trotting down the road to catch up.

Bianca stood there for a moment; annoyed that Cheren interrupted her, before clumsily taking off for her friends, "H-hey come on! Wait for meeee!"

Accumula Town was quite different from what they had become used to seeing from Nuvema.

"Whoa…" Bianca awed, "There are like houses way up there! Look there are houses down in there too!"

"Imagine living in one of those houses, that would be awesome." Hilda commented, "If I were to pick a house here. I'd pick one that's in the sky."

Cheren observed, "Hm, I'd rather live in a normal house. It's different, but I prefer that things stay the same."

Just as they were studying the difference of the house builds, a guy standing in front of them suddenly pointed out, "Hey there's something going on in the plaza!"

"Well let's have a little look-see." Another guy says before the two walk off.

"What's going on?" Cheren questioned.

"I haven't gotten a clue Cheren." Hilda replied, "Let's go check it out."

They followed the guys to a crowd of people with their attention focused on something.

Luckily, the crowd was not too tightly packed, and the three made their way through with careful steps. Now near the front of the crowd, they see a line of bizarrely uniformed people. They all looked the same. Literally, they had the same outfits, same hair, practically the same faces. Almost like mirror images.

The person in the center walked out of the line, clearing a path for a middle-aged man to slowly walk through. Now there was so much abnormality about this guy from every angle, the top of his freaky robes resemble the battlements of a castle, his concealed right eye and right arm gave him a spooky vibe. Once he was in front, the dressed up person rejoined his spot in line.

After a brief hesitation the older man spoke, "Greetings everyone, my name is Ghetsis. I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokémon liberation."

That sentence initiated a stream of small talk among the townsfolk.

Hilda was also skeptical, "Pokémon Liberation?"

Ghetsis paced to the left, quieting the gossip and continuing his speech.

"I'm sure most of you believe that we humans and Pokémon are partners that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However…Is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans… only assume this is the truth?"

He paced to the right, back in the center.

"Pokémon are subject to the selfish commands of trainers…They get pushed around when they are our 'partners' at work… Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I'm saying?"

The crowd gave no response, perhaps they're thinking deep about what this man is saying. Hilda leaned close to Cheren saying in a low voice, "What is this guy talking about?"

"I don't know Hilda, he's not making any sense…"

Ghetsis paced farther to the right,

"Now, everyone, Pokémon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans have much to learn. Tell me, what is our responsibility to these wonderful beings called Pokémon?"

Everything was so quiet you could hear a pin drop echo. Ghetsis strode calmly past his subordinates.

"That's right!" he abruptly announced. "We must liberate the Pokémon!"

"Liberate Pokémon?" Hilda's mind questioned, "Why would we do that?"

As if Ghetsis had read her mind he said, "Then, and only then, will humans and Pokémon truly be equals."

Bianca tapped Hilda's shoulder and whispered, "Hilda… I don't like the sound of this…"

"I'm sure it's nothing Bianca…This guy cannot be serious…"

"Everyone, I end my words here today imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokémon… and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention."

After his conclusion, they exited town with a series of complex formations, resembling military soldiers.

A gentleman from the crowd spoke out, "About that speech… What do you think we should do?"

"Liberate Pokémon?" A younger man answered, "That's not possible!"

The crowd rapidly dispersed and everyone went on with their day. Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca were left standing there baffled.

"Um… guys?" Bianca began, "Was that for real?"

"I would like to think not. Trainers and Pokémon help each other out!" Cheren asserted.

Hilda agreed with her friends, the idea of separating Pokémon from people sounded like absolute nonsense. What good would come from that?

"Don't worry guys. I mean, doing that would be impossible!"

A monotone voice came from a few feet away, "I wouldn't be so sure."

There stood a young man appearing slightly older than the three, he had waist-length pale green hair tied back in a wild ponytail. He approached the group slowly.

"Your Pokémon… Just now, it was saying…"

Cheren was uncertain, "Huh? Pokémon talking? That's an odd thing to say."

"Yes, they're talking. You three don't hear it? How sad."

"Who are you?" Hilda asked without really paying attention to what he was saying.

She might have sounded a bit rude, but the young man answered kindly, "My name is N."

"My name is Cheren, and these are my friends, Hilda and Bianca. We were asked to complete the Pokedex, and we just left on our journey. My main goal is to become the champion, though."

"A journey…huh? So… You're going to battle and hurt many, many Pokémon for that."

Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca exchanged confused looks.

"I'm a trainer too…" N continued, "But I can't help but wonder… Are Pokémon really happy that way?"

He stepped closer to the group and focused his attention on Hilda, "Well, Hilda, is it?" he asked.

"Um… yeah." Hilda confirmed.

"Let me hear your Pokémon's voice again!"

Hilda may not have understood fully what he said, but she did notice him take a poke ball out of his pocket.

"Pidove! Go!" he commanded.

A bird Pokémon emerged from the Poke ball light. Hilda mimicked in releasing Tepig from his Poke ball. She then pulled out her Pokedex, when she opened it an electronic female voice reads to her,

"Pidove, the Tiny Pigeon Pokémon. A Pidove flock's cooing can get extremely noisy. These Pokémon live in cities. Flocks often gather in parks and plazas."

"Go ahead, Make your move." N said.

Hilda firmed her expression, "Tepig! Use ember now!"

The orb at the end of Tepig's tail glowed orange and he released spiraling streams of tiny flames from its nose, heading right for Pidove.

"Pidove! Gust!"

Pidove blew all the embers into the concrete.

"Tepig!" the tiny pig Pokémon wailed, resisting the strong wind.

Hilda didn't lose rhythm, "Tepig! Use tackle!"

Tepig shook it off and slammed into Pidove, the bird Pokémon flew right into the small embers still lit on the concrete.

The Pidove cooed in pain shooting up into the air with a trail of smoke behind it. It looked like a rocket that just left the launch pad. Gravity brought it back down with a rough landing.

N's eyes glowed with surprise; something about Hilda's Tepig was something he had never seen before…

Nonetheless he continued, "Pidove use Quick attack!"

Pidove jumped up and made light quick steps and lunged to Tepig.

"Tepig! Ember!"

Tepig again sent embers flying out of his nostrils, nailing Pidove before it could reach Tepig.

Pidove fell to the ground with no strength in it left. Tepig jumped for joy.

Bianca applauded, "Go Hilda! Go Hilda! Go Hilda Go!" she praised in a chanting fashion.

Cheren smiled toward Hilda, pushing up his glasses as he routinely does, "Good job Hilda."

"Thanks guys." Hilda said sincerely, "That was a bit of a tougher match than last time. A little more exciting too. No offense guys." She joked.

"Geez Hilda…" Bianca giggled.

Quietly, N returned his Pokémon, "I never thought I'd hear Pokémon say such things…" he murmured looking toward the triad of pals.

Hilda turned around and walked up to N, "You're a pretty good Pokémon trainer you know."

N took a glance at Hilda, "…As long as Pokémon stay confined in Poke Balls... Pokémon will never become perfect beings. I have to change the world for Pokémon, because they're my friends."

Hilda became perplexed at N's disagreements but before she could debate he went away, she watched him go and leave town out of the same gate those Team Plasma weirdoes left.

"Huuuuh? What was that all about?" Bianca pondered.

Cheren shook his head, "I don't know… strange guy but I'm not going to worry about it. Listen, I'm going on ahead okay? I'm going to challenge the gym leader in Striaton City."

"Oooooki doki then! See you later Cheren!"

Cheren went on ahead. Meanwhile, Hilda's mind was telling her that what this N guy is going on about is nothing more than complete fantasy. I mean for crying out loud! Dividing Pokémon and people is like living in a world where Pokémon don't exist!

"Are you worried too Hilda? About what that N guy said?"

Hilda smoothed her ponytail down, "I don't think I will be. Did any part of what he said make sense to you?"

"Not at all... I mean… the thought of people and Pokémon being separated from one another is so silly!"

Hilda looked around the streets of this town, everyone was going about their day normally as if nothing had ever happened. She was further assured as no one appeared to take Ghetisis's speech seriously.

"Exactly my point, Come on, Cheren has already moved ahead didn't he? Let's go to Striaton City."

"Right behind you Hilda!"

The girls locked arms and started for Striaton City.