Here comes part two!
A few hours later, both Kenny and Lillipup were level 7. Satisfied that his small team was ready to battle trainers that were sure to inhabit Route 2, Black ended that grinding session and made for Accumula's Pokemon Center. Upon leaving, he spied two men talking about some commotion going on at the plaza. Having to pass by that way, Black decided to have a look. Cheren happened to be to one side of the crowd, and he spotted Black and called him over. The two watched as seven people dressed as medieval knights set up two flags on either side of the plaza. They then stood in a perfectly straight line between the flags, and a green haired man in strange clothing stepped forward.
"My name is Ghetsis. I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokemon liberation." The man stated in a loud and clear voice. The crowd immediately fell into whispers as people tried to figure out exactly what he meant. The man began slowly pacing back and forth before the seven. "I'm sure most of you believe that we humans and Pokemon are partners that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However... Is this really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans...only assume that this is the truth? Pokemon 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?"
Once more the crowd fell into whispers. Most everyone seemed to doubt the man's words, but they were anxious. Many couldn't seem to help but wonder if perhaps this strange man had spoken a small truth.
"Just what kind of crap are you getting at, old man?" Black thought, scowling up at the man.
Ghetsis seemed to be fueled by the people's concerns, and his speech became livelier. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokemon 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 toward these wonderful beings called Pokemon?" He barely waited for the whispers to die down before shouting, "That's right! We must liberate the Pokemon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokemon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokemon...and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention."
With that, the seven people gathered their flags and took formation around their leader. As they marched out of town, the crowd began to chatter loudly. Those who had been thinking about what Ghetsis had to say and were uneasy quickly had their doubts laid to rest by the others. When the crowd dispersed, the general consensus was that the green-haired man was a lunatic.
"Well, that was certainly a distraction." Cheren sighed.
"Pokemon don't have to listen to us trainers if they don't want to." Black stated calmly. Kenny and Lillipup, who had been on Black's shoulder and by his feet respectively, nodded their heads in agreement.
"Your Pokemon... Just now, it was saying..." A young man who had been standing nearby spoke up. His speech was quick and it was hard to understand what exactly he had just said. He approached Cheren and Black in only a few long strides.
"Slow down. You talk too fast. And what's this about Pokemon...talking? That's an odd thing to say." Cheren snapped at him, unhappy that somebody had just walked in on the conversation.
The young man ignored him. "Yes, they're talking. Oh. Then, you two can't hear it, either... How sad. My Name is N."
Cheren frowned. Something about this person was rubbing him the wrong way, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It wasn't that he was rude… "My name is Cheren, and this is Black. We were asked to complete the Pokedex, and we just left on our journey. My main goal is to become the Champion, though."
"Way to go spilling all the beans and your life story." Black wanted nothing more than to facepalm, but resisted that urge and instead looked over this new person.
"The Pokedex, eh? So... You're going to confine many, many Pokemon in Pokeballs for that, then. I'm a Trainer, too, but I can't help wondering... Are Pokemon really happy that way? Well, Black, is it? Let me hear your Pokemon's voice again!"
Just as soon as he had shouted that, N took a step back and released a purloin from its Pokeball. In that moment Black was thankful that he had done that training earlier. Having used Kenny in two previous trainer battles thanks to his friends, it was Lillipup's turn to shine. The little dog charged into battle and completely destroyed the cat in two rounds. Although the battle was short, N was muttering strange things all throughout it, saying he wanted to hear more and more of the dog's voice.
"I never expected to hear Pokemon say such things..." he whispered when he cat fell unconscious. He recalled it into the Pokeball. Black did the same for Lillipup, as he had been injured a little. "As long as Pokemon are confined in Pokeballs... Pokemon will never become perfect beings. I have to change the world for Pokemon, because they're my friends." N stated firmly before turning around and running from the city.
"What a weird guy." Cheren said, watching him leave. "Anyway, I'm going to be heading for Striaton City. There's a gym there, and Professor Juniper told me there was somebody I should meet. You should go there, too." With that he too made his way for Route 2.
"Pokemon are his friends, huh? Just what does that N person think other trainers see our Pokemon as? Slaves? Whatever. He seems like the type who would sing praises to Team Plasma." Black shrugged. "Come on, Kenny. Let's get Lillipup healed, and then we'll go catch a new teammate, okay?" The oshawott cried out happily at the prospect of getting a new buddy, and Black couldn't help but smile. At the time he thought nothing of it, but later Black would realize that despite the short amount of time they had spent together he had already stopped thinking of Kenny as his unwanted Pokemon and started thinking of her as an irreplaceable friend.
"Oh come on!" Black whined. "I already have a lillipup! I don't need another one!"
"Couldn't you just catch a different Pokemon?" Kenny asked from her trainer's shoulder.
"That would be against the rules. Oh well, I suppose it is better to have doubles than to be short a Pokemon." Black stated. "Lillipup, tackle it once more, and I'll catch it."
Lillipup obeyed, and the wild one was easily captured. Thinking quickly, Black decided his new team member should be called Georgette. Lillipup seemed happy, and stayed beside her during the walk back to town for healing. The rest of the route proved simple enough, and the trainers dropped like flies before Black's team. At the end of it, Bianca decided it was time for a rematch. Being unable to say no, the battle began.
Against her own lillipup, Georgette proved herself more than capable. When Tepig was sent out, the female dog help up for another round before needing to be switched. Afterward Kenny finished off the self-cooking bacon with no effort. With victory belonging to Black, both trainers entered Striaton City. Bianca went immediately for the Pokemon Center, while Black decided to first check out the gym.
A man stood outside the gym, and denied him access. He said the gym leader was paying a visit to the Pokemon school just on the other side of the Center, and said that if Black wanted the badge, he would have to fetch the leader. So of course Black was forced to go and do this.
"What the heck? A gym leader that isn't in the gym? I sure hope the rest of these people actually do their jobs." Black grumbled, entering the school. "Wait what? Why is Cheren here? Doesn't he already know everything a place like this would have to offer?"
Upon seeing Black, Cheren explained that he was there to read up on anything the school had to offer, and that he had learned a lot. When questioned about the gym leader, he stated that the man was there just earlier, and Black had probably passed him on the road. Before he could question how he could have passed anybody on the road when there was no one around, Cheren challenged him to a battle. Black was then thankful that his team was fairly well healed already.
Starting with his strongest, Cheren released Snivy. Lillipup, being the healthiest, was sent out against the grass snake. Just as with all his previous battles, Lillipup took out his opponent in record time. He nearly brought down Cheren's next Pokemon, a purloin, but had to be switched out at the last moment. In his place, the almost equally well-rested Kenny was sent into battle. It only took one stream from her water gun to bring down the cat. Disappointed at his own work, Cheren left to go and challenge the gym leader. Black took one look around the school, and also left. Whatever the books and chalkboard had to teach him, he already knew.
Outside of the gym Black was met by a different man than before. This one had short green hair. Only half-listening to what he had to say, Black couldn't help but wonder if all his enemies were going to have green hair or if that was just a weird coincidence. He did catch one thing the man said, and that was that he should go into the Dreamyard in search of a Pokemon to assist him in the upcoming battle. Not one to pass up an opportunity to get a new teammate, Black went and did just that.
With two young trainers to defeat in battle, Black was thankful to find that the third person he came across was uninterested in fighting. In fact, she claimed that she had too many Pokemon to take care of.
"So, what do you think, will you take one off my hands?" she asked.
"Wait, back up. You're going to give me a free Pokemon."
"Yes."
"There's no catch here, right?"
"None."
"It isn't going to be a level 1 magikarp named Stupid, right?"
"What's a magikarp?"
"…Okay. Free shit is always awesome!" Black said happily, holding out his hand for the Pokeball.
"Since you chose Oshawott as your starter, I think the perfect Pokemon to give you would be this Pansear. Hey! Look at that, he already likes you! You should give him a nickname!"
How this woman knew what the fire monkey thought of Black was beyond him. All he knew was that he just scored a free fire-type, and that was just fine with him. Dubbing his new companion Doomeister for the badassness it was sure to have, Black then left the Dreamyard for another exciting round of grinding.
Next chapter is going to have a fairly long explanation down here. Just a head's up.
Same as before, please leave a review if you liked it! If you spotted any mistakes, it would be awesome if you would let me know!