"No, you can't!" Zoroark said through tears as I explained to her my decision.'
I don't know how much time had passed, it'd been at least a week...
"I'm sorry…I can't advocate for liberation and still keep you penned up like this" After landing somewhere in pinwheel, I had decided to release my Pokémon, save for Zekrom, as the legendary stated that I was still worthy of possessing it, and also that it couldn't go anywhere else seeing as it was a giant electrical dragon.
I started with Zoroark, since that would be the hardest for me, yet here I was unsure about releasing her… I was so certain a couple of minutes ago, but her sad pleading eyes just…
"I want to stay here with you. It's where I'm happiest," she insisted. "Together you and I can help Pokémon much better than if we were alone." She stared at me with a grim determination that made me rethink what I'd just set my mind to do. Letting these Pokemon go would seem terrible…It'd make them seem more like replaceable assets than the friends they were to me, and a lot of them didn't have anyone else. I was sheltering them from the cruel system that was the Unova region… Plus Zoroark seemed happier here. Every year I'd been with her she'd grown happier and more content with the world that abandoned her-
"Oh, Zoroark," I said, hugging her suddenly. "I can't do it. You're my best friend in the whole world, and always will be." Zoroark was shocked a moment, but hugged me back and asked, "Does this mean I can stay, N?"
"Yes…you can" I said so softly it was practically a whisper. "Can we all stay?" Stopping the hug, I noticed the rest of my Pokémon were nearby. "er….yes," I stammered, feeling slightly embarrassed. Why had I done that? I hadn't been thinking, it had just…. felt right, and- My thoughts were interrupted by a human voice behind me
"I hate to break up this reunion, but just because you left team plasma doesn't mean you aren't wanted" I looked to see the familiar faces of the shadow triad behind me. I hated how they just sort of…appeared without warning. "What do you mean by 'I'm not wanted"
The same member stated grimly, "Alder's defeat and the secret building of your castle around the Pokémon league made people question the ability of the champion of the region to protect it's people, and it's caused doubt in this system in neighboring regions as well. Even though Black became the champion shortly after you left, this doubt didn't vanish from other regions. Black tried to make it seem like you were just a poor misguided pawn of ghetsis, but it didn't convince most. The fact that the elite four were basically protecting anyone from knowing of Alder's weakness caused massive outrage. The other champions want to capture you to restore faith in their ability to protect the region against any threat."
My jaw dropped. I hadn't thought about all the unease and hatred we might receive for this, All I'd managed to do in the end was put myself and my friends in even more danger, "Which….specific champions are coming after me?" I asked after hesitating a moment.
"Well… specifically, Cynthia has been your most avid denouncer, and has personally made it a goal to find and capture you. Wallace hasn't expressed much interest given that it's contest season, but asked Steven to go in his place. Steven is still widely regarded as a hero after the incidents involving Magma and Aqua in Hoenn. Lance has personally gone to war with all criminal syndicates after the incidents with Team Rocket a few years back, and is nearly as furious as Cynthia about this, they have all agreed that stopping you is first priority, no matter through what means"
I grimaced. Steven. After stopping worldwide flooding and drought due to the legendary rampages, it is said that Steven quit his position as champion to seek out and catch Rayquaza…which some sources say he has already accomplished. Cynthia earned immense respect after stopping Cyrus and catching Giratina, closing the dimensional chaos that was the distortion world. Meanwhile, Lance the champion of the Indigo league was no slouch himself. He was the strongest trainer in the world, prior to his inconclusive battle by the mysterious Red. Red had insisted on fighting atop mount silver, but a blizzard occurred in the middle of the battle forcing them to retreat. Lance, being ever so slightly arrogant, considered this a defeat to himself. His 'defeat,' and the incident in Hoenn only fueled his passion to capture a legendary of his own. Though Ho-oh eluded him, he eventually managed to track down and capture Lugia. With his legendary in hand he took back the champion position from red after a long arduous battle. To face legendary trainers like them was a frightening thought to say the least, especially since they were all currently undefeated, despite what Lance thinks.
"Is there any way I can avoid them? Wait it out, or something?" I asked. "I don't think so - not with most every trainer in the world looking for you. You are the most wanted person in the world at the moment. Good luck, N." and as quickly as they appeared, the shadow triad vanished, leaving only me and my shivering Pokémon deep in the forest. Zoroark looked up at me, and I looked up at the sky.
It had begun to rain