Thanks for the reviews, favorites and alerts everyone! So…yeah. I am a queen of procrastination. As evidenced by the fact that I'm working on this chapter when I should be studying for the final exams of classes that I'm barely passing.
N is finally going to be in the anime. After I had my little spazz attack at the trailer of N petting Pikachu and shaking Ash's hand, I decided to get my butt into gear and crank out the rest of this chapter. Then I realized that I didn't like the way N was turning out in here and rewrote half of it…for the fourth time. I've also got somewhat of a plot hashed out that does eventually deviate from the anime of which there will be some liberties taken with anyways.
This is a long update, because I couldn't figure out where to end it. Don't expect something like this for a long time. Also, you wonderful people deserve this for a giving so much love to a slow story that didn't get its second chapter for nearly a year. Hopefully the next one won't take so long.
Ash's Current Team:
Pikachu, Tepig, Oshawott, Pidove
"Regular Speech"
'Poke Speech'
Chapter 2: Visitors From Kanto
There had been rumors of agents from a foreign organization coming to Isshu. Agents from Team Rocket of Kanto. Team Rocket did not have the great goal of liberating pokemon like Team Plasma did, rather they selfishly used them for their own gain. However, they had far more experience in taking away pokemon from cruel and resistant trainers with the added bonus of being an unknown party. So Team Plasma would inconspicuously welcome them into this land and when the time came…liberate all the pokemon Team Rocket had gathered for themselves. Some of the higher-up members had been assigned to contact them and keep an eye on their movements.
Yet even the grunts of a foreign organization had to have pokemon and they could be considered 'trainers' as despicable as that sounded. Foreign trainers meant foreign pokemon. Even if logic dictated that they would be using native pokemon so as not to stand out, there was still a chance that they would have brought along some of their more powerful pokemon as back up. Or maybe they could be masquerading as tourists and as such have a pokemon as a pet. Even if N did not love, much less like, trainers, he certainly loved pokemon.
There was no need for N to be here. In fact, he should not be here. He should be continuing his search for the great legendary dragons, Reshiram and Zekrom. He should be searching for the other 'hero' who would awaken one dragon and oppose him in a fated battle.
After all, N already held all that was necessary to be the first 'hero'. It was only a matter of time now until a dragon chose him. He had even found two promising trainers. Brown-haired twins. A brother and sister who were on their way to earn their third badge the last time he saw them. He should be keeping an eye on them most of all as the brother, Touya if he remembered correctly, quietly asserted and lived by what he considered the 'truth' and his sister, Touko, spirited and wild swept through her path with her 'ideals'. They were practically the embodiments of the values of the legendaries. Either one could become the other 'hero'.
So N who should not be here in Striaton City was here in Striaton City trying to covertly find traces of foreign trainers with foreign pokemon. It was unlikely that he would meet anyone who would blow his cover here anyways. He also had many 'friends' who would come to his aid if needed. There was little to worry about.
It's the Pikachu. The first defining feature of this wide-eyed boy is the Pikachu perched on his shoulder, short stubby claws gripping onto the jacket below its paws. With a creature so out of place in the land of Isshu, attention is instantly diverted to the boy like a beacon. Its shiny yellow coat and lightning bolt tail draws eyes like metal to a magnet. Bright red spots like stop signs on either cheek make it that much more noticeable.
The boy himself is for the most part, unremarkable. No matter how you look at him, he looked like new trainer just starting out on his journey with his first pokemon. Everything about him is eager and open for the world to see. From his eyes to his movements, he is constantly in motion as he tries to take in everything, and then some, all at once.
Could that be a Team Rocket agent? Masquerading as a tourist or trainer? Was he even just a visitor? It was possible that the boy had good connections and was given the Pikachu on his shoulder. If so, the boy might be from Isshu and someone from far away might have sent it, no him, not it, him. Now that the boy had turned, the flat edge of the Pikachu's tail is enough to show that it was male.
It wasn't exactly uncommon for family members to gift their younger relatives with a starter that wasn't one of the three famous ones. In fact, many people started and ended their journeys without ever obtaining a Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott.
The only reason that so many chose to travel to Nuvema Town for the famed starters of the Isshu region was the allure of, and here N frowned at the thought, the Pokedex. The machine used to record and display information about any pokemon the user came across. The machine that was used as the excuse for the capture of countless pokemon over in years all in the name of research. Trainers who had one tended to have a much bigger advantage than those without.
If people really wanted to learn more about pokemon though, why couldn't they even make the effort to learn how to talk to them? N had and as such he was not limited to the help of any particular pokemon other than his own.
The only upside, if there was any as far as N could tell, was that people who used them were automatically limited to six pokemon. The seventh caught pokemon would be locked into the pokeball and be unusable for battle until another one had been switched out. He had even heard that in the other regions, the pokeball would actually be transported away and the trainer wouldn't even get to do more that hold it for a few seconds. The caught pokemon would then be healed.(3) It was a small consolation at best, but better than nothing. At least this way, the trainer would be unable to battle with a most likely injured pokemon.
N had no qualms about approaching the pair. They had most likely been approached by plenty of people already. One more wouldn't make a difference and while he might be remembered, there would surely be a steady stream of other people the boy would meet if only to make comments on the Pikachu and N himself would just become another face in a crowd. Just another distant or forgotten memory.
"Do you see anything Pikachu?"
"Pikapika chu. Pikapi." 'Just ask for directions already, Satoshi.'
Still, Pikachu pricked his ears up and stretched himself a little taller as if the few added inches would make a difference to finding their goal in this new city.
"I know. I know. I'll ask the next person 'kay?"
N froze. Had he just found someone like him? Could this boy speak with pokemon too?
The boy, no Satoshi, N had a name now, reached up and scratched under his partner's chin who responded with a cooing. "Chaaaaa..." 'Okaaaaay…'
Well, there was only one way to find out.
"Your Pokémon... Just now, it was say-"
Startled, Satoshi whirled around, Pikachu clinging to his hat tightly, cheeks sparking in surprise. N stepped back as well. Good reflexes he noted absently.
It probably hadn't been the smartest idea to approach from behind. Pokemon had taught him that sometimes you shouldn't try to move quietly as that would make you seem suspicious. Like a predator about to sneak up on his prey. If N had more knowledge of modern human expressions, the thought about kicking himself for making such blunder probably would have passed through his mind.
Instead, he immediately tried to relax himself. Loose hands. Palms face forward and open. Eyes open and friendly. A small smile with no teeth. Baring teeth was a big no-no. While smiles were recognized by many pokemon as an affable thing, showing off teeth was akin to a threat and tended to set them on edge. The fact that N is towering by nearly a head over the, admittedly short, boy doesn't do a thing for the image he's going for, but that couldn't be helped.
I'm not an enemy. I'm not a threat. I'm not here to hurt you…I…I…
The boy (Satoshi. It was Satoshi. The boy had a name. He needed to remember it.) and the Pikachu both had startling eyes. They were not normal eyes. Not normal was not to be used in the usual sense like a rare eye color or blind eyes. They were brown, a shade so dark, it was almost black. At least until you came closer and realized that they were…absolutely brilliant. There was a fire to those dark orbs that burned brightly like the flames of an Emboar's beard.
One could tell a lot about a person with just one look. And that one look showed that Satoshi (Finally, the name was sticking.) was a passionate person. Open and trusting. In fact, his eyes were almost like a pokemon that had never seen a human before. Unafraid because he did not know better. Curious. Pure. His Pikachu was more guarded and while both were starting to relax, he continued to watch N with a suspicious gaze.
How interesting. Usually, it was the other way around. Humans were naturally suspicious of other humans, but pokemon could usually tell that N was more like one of them despite his human shape and tended to open up to him.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. It's just that I've never seen a real Pikachu before."
The boy and the Pikachu both seemed to breathe out at once and the tension in their shoulders eased.
"It's alright." Satoshi smiled sheepishly. It was a wide one with no teeth either, and as he seemed to shrug off any apprehension he might have had at talking to a stranger, so too did his Pikachu who was giving him the same grin. "We've been getting that a lot lately."
"My name is Satoshi and this is my precious partner, Pikachu."
"Pika!" 'Hello!'
This was becoming more and more interesting. N had heard that a pokemon who had been with a human long enough tended to take on some of his or her characteristics and mannerisms. He had seen and heard of good pokemon turned afraid and untrusting by cruel and vicious trainers, but this was definitely a first for him. A suspicious creature turned trusting by a human? And the words Satoshi had chosen to call Pikachu…
"Hello. Satoshi. Pikachu. I am called N." Normally for N, a pokemon's name came first, but some humans took offense to that. Why he could not fathom, but if he wanted to talk to this Pikachu, then he would have to carefully use all of his, admittedly, limited social skills with the trainer. The black haired trainer with glasses had mentioned that he talked too quickly, so this was something he would have to deal with patiently. It had been surprisingly hard to slow down his normal speech, but he did not want this boy to be scared away yet.
"Een-neh." Satoshi drew out the name as if he was testing it. How strange. N had never heard his name spoken this way before. Was this what people called 'having an accent'? He knew that humans and pokemon alike sounded different from area to area, even if they shared a common language, but the lilts and variations in Satoshi's voice were unlike anything he had ever heard before.
"Not quite." He shook his head. "N. It's shorter. One sound."
"Een-ne."
"Almost." This was accompanied by a small encouraging small.
"Eene. Een. En." There is still a lilt to the end, but N supposed that this is the closest he's going to get.
For his efforts, N rewards the boy with a bigger smile and is taken aback when Satoshi gives him a beaming grin that is so big it shuts his eyes. There are teeth this time, but the younger boy gives off such a feeling of accomplishment and pure joy that it is in no way threatening.
"Pi ka!" 'Good job!'
A loyal and encouraging friend. This Pikachu gives off the same feeling of happiness that the pokemon of Touya and Touko do, but it is far more intense. The bond between him and this boy is far stronger. They have been together for a long time and it is clear to see. It feels like what he has with his own partner and closest friend.
"Chu. Ka." 'Hey. Ask.' Pikachu nudged Satoshi's shoulder.
"Hmm? Oh right. Do you know where the gym in this city is?"
N stiffened a little.
"You are a trainer?"
"Yup. We're from Kanto. Masara Town to be exact and we've come to take on the Pokemon League here!"
Captures. Battles. Horrid, horrid Gyms. Injuries and scars on oppressed pokemon who don't know any better. The questions 'Why here? What's so great about being a trainer and challenging gym leaders?' wants to come out. 'Are you from Team Rocket?' is another, but instead…
"There's a sign post behind you." N points up to the tall metal pole with several plates of metal attached to it. The highest one is the street name. Below it are important places and their distance from the pole with arrows denoting the general direction.
Satoshi and Pikachu both look up and stare in confusion.
A minute passes. Satoshi's eyes strain a little harder.
Can he not see it? Does he have bad eyesight?
Amidst the chatter of the sidewalk and the general hustle and bustle of the city, even N's sensitive ears do not pick up Pikachu's quiet murmuring.
"Pika chu. Pipika pika pika chukachu." 'It's no use. I can't make heads or tails of it either.' Pikachu shook his head. "Pika." 'Just ask.'
"Ummm…"
Satoshi turned around and gave N a sheepish grin.
"I'm kinda new here and I still don't know exactly what's what. Could you tell just me where the important things are?"
"Over there is the police station." He waved an arm to the left.
"The department stores and pokemon center are ahead of us and-"
"The pokemon center is the one with the light blue glass and red roof right?" Satoshi interrupted.
N blinked in surprise.
"How did you know?"
"I can see the red roof and the plus on it. Most of the pokemon centers I've been to have the same color and sign even if they look different."
N took a moment to find it amidst the sea of colorful over hangings and tinted glass from nearby stores.
Ah. Now he could see it too.
"Yes. That's the pokemon center and the…gym…is northwest from here about fifteen blocks away."
If either Satoshi or Pikachu noticed his pause before and after the word 'gym', they ignored it in favor of looking at the direction N was pointing to.
N blinked and watched as the boy began to shake. Pikachu was just as tense, but he couldn't tell if the little mouse was shaking himself from the way Satoshi was practically trembling. Nervousness? Fear?
"Are you alri-"
"Thank you very much!"
"Pikachu Pika!" 'Thank you very much!'
Any further words N had died before they were even formed at the sight of the boy bowing to him. Pikachu clutching to his hat, head bent as well. The simultaneous sounds overlapped and the words were heard as one voice. Before he could begin to unravel what he had heard, Satoshi had taken off down the street, feet pounding the pavement as he dodged pedestrians and poles alike.
As Satoshi's and Pikachu's backs were lost to the crowds and distance, N glanced back up at the sign post. 'Striaton Gym' is the third from the top right under 'Pokemon Center'. Police Station, Striaton Shopping Department…the list went on.
If Satoshi could pick out the logo of the pokemon center roof from the red coverings of the stores surrounding it from here...he should have had no trouble with the sign in front of him. Was he far-sighted? Or was it something else? Could he even read?
'N.'
A tiny yellow spider-like creature poked its head out from N's hair. Electric blue eyes followed N's gaze.
'Should we follow them? The whole reason we came back was to look for new pokemon.'
"And we already met one. We should leave now. Besides, they are going to a gym. You know how I feel about those."
'And I know you. You didn't get to talk to the Pikachu, but if you go and watch them, maybe you'll get a chance to talk to him later. Like when he's in the pokemon center.'
"How do you know that they'll be there?" Even as he questioned the Joltik who had climbed out of his hair and onto his shoulder, N's feet were already carrying him to the direction of the Striaton City Gym.
Many people actually kept out small pokemon carrying them in their arms or on their shoulders, like Satoshi did with Pikachu, so no one paid any mind to the green haired man or the tiny Joltik on his shoulders. Although, if one were to look closer, they might have noticed that the depressions on the man's shoulder were caused by something bigger and heavier than the tiniest pokemon in Isshu.
Satoshi did not slow down until he realized that he was lost.
"Awww…I think we're lost."
Pikachu promptly facepalmed.
"Pi. Kachu." 'Yes. We are.'
"We got carried away didn't we." It was a statement not a question to which Pikachu could only nod.
"I should have asked En-nuh to take us there. This whole 'not being able to read thing' is gonna make things a lot harder than I realized."
Despite a couple weeks of cramming, Satoshi could only remember some of the characters for this strange new writing. He knew enough to write his name and basic things such as numbers, but more complicated things were undecipherable. Unfortunately, studying had never been his forte either. But still, he remembered the characters for 'Pokemon Center' yet he forget the ones for 'Gym' of all things.
Professor Ookido and his mother had explained that it would be hard for him. Professor Araragi said that it wouldn't be impossible, difficult yes, but not impossible. Satoshi was not the first visiting trainer nor would he be the last. His new pokedex had a feature that allowed the text to be displayed in his native language. It had also been modified with an added feature that would scan and translate the local text into characters he could read. Still, it would be inconvenient, not to mention a little strange, to constantly have his pokedex out for just about everything not dealing with pokemon.
Some places, where tourism played a more prominent part of the economy, would have features more suited to their visitors such as signs with dual languages. Isshu also imported several products from other regions that Satoshi was very familiar with. Restoratives like Potions and Full Heals came in the same spray bottles with the same colorings. And well…Satoshi rarely ever read newspapers or magazines anyways. If he needed anything, he could just ask the shopkeepers or locals for help.
Although all of them had suggested that he stay a little longer to study up more, Satoshi had been too impatient to wait another few weeks to learn more of the vernacular. It was a decision that was definitely coming back to bite him hard.
Money was not a concern. Pokedollars were still used, but most trainers had a credit based account with cards. Satoshi could access his as long as he had his pokedex which doubled as his ID. He could pay for whatever he needed and as he hadn't exactly been a lavish spender over the years, he had saved up a large amount of money. While not rich, Satoshi was well off enough with his earnings from the various leagues he had participated in.
He had a new sleeping bag. New clothes. More pokeballs. Some basic healing items. Pokechow. Preserved fruits, ration bars, jerky, and water bottles. The old bento box filled with mementos from his travels and wrapped in the pink handkerchief Takeshi had given him. His old containment capsules still worked so he saw no reason to get more.
Shaking his head to banish the thoughts, Satoshi began looking around once more.
"I wonder what the gym leader's like? What kind of pokemon can I battle? I can't wait!"
"Do you even know where the gym is?"
"Iris!" Satoshi turned in surprise. "Where were you?"
"Where was I? Where was I?! You were the one who got excited and took off running for the city and left ME behind! Geez! You're just like a child."
"Uh…Sorry."
"Pika… 'Sorry…'
She didn't seem too annoyed with him as she fed her Axew an apple.
"Wow, an Axew, huh?"
A green haired stranger carrying a tote bag filled with groceries approached the small group.
N watched the group from a distance. The girl who had joined Satoshi had a young Axew in her hair. Axew-Girl for lack of a better name seemed to be Satoshi and Pikachu's companion if the way she had berated him was any indication.
The green haired boy, here N narrowed his eyes and made sure that he did not stand out from the people loitering to the side of a nearby café, was one of the three gym leaders famous for running a restaurant that doubled as their gym.
The gym leader was now guiding away Satoshi and Axew-Girl.
Here N stepped away from the wall and proceeded to follow them to the Striaton City Gym, only to stop right outside the tall double doors.
'Well? Are you going in? You stalked the boy all the way here so it would be a waste not to go all the way.'
"Heroes do not stalk others. I am a hero. Therefore, I am not stalking him. I am…just…curious…about the Pikachu."
'Riiiiiiight. So following him for ten blocks at a dead run, watching him get lost, ducking into dark alleys whenever he made a turn, and now considering going into a place that you swore that you would never step foot in without the intent of destroying it was aaaaaallllll just curiosity.' There was an exasperated air surrounding the Joltik who rolled two of its four eyes.
N grimaced as he abandoned that line of conversation and tried to reason on exactly why he should NOT go in.
"I didn't go in to watch any of Touya's and Touko's gym battles."
'Touya and Touko didn't have a Pikachu.'
"But-" His hand was already touching the door.
"AAARRRGGGHHHH! I want to have a gym match at the Striaton Gym!"
N jumped and the Joltik on his shoulder fell off transforming to a dark fox-like creature as it landed onto the ground. That was Satoshi!
It was quiet for all of half a minute. Suddenly, there was dramatic music being played followed by loud effeminate squeals.
N and Zorua traded glances.
What was going on in there?
N's initial apprehension had tripled, but even then it was soundly crushed under the weight of his curiosity. What probably made Zorua his closest friend was the fact that, for better or worse, they both had a ridiculously inquisitive nature that would occasionally land one or both in trouble. With a shaky hand, N pushed open the door. He and Zorua peek in only to see several empty tables and the back of Axew-Girl disappearing through a doorway.
Zorua has returned to hiding in plain sight. This time as a Pidove perched on N's shoulder.
N reaches the balcony in time to see Satoshi scanning the gym leaders' pokemon with a pokedex. The sight of Satoshi using it makes him wince as does the automated voice reading off their descriptions. He should have known, but he had hoped that Satoshi wouldn't be one of those trainers who relied so much on their pokedex. Those who went without usually took the time to learn more about their pokemon individually.
"The fire type Pansear, the grass type Pansage, the water type Panpour…"
The sheer admiration in Satoshi's voice for all of them is enough to take the sting out of N's feeling of…of…disappointment? Betrayal?
"Huh? Who are you?"
N gives a start as he realizes that Axew-Girl is talking to him. How could he have let himself go so easily? Heroes were supposed to be cool and brave and wise, but here he was as jumpy and nervous as a young Deerling.
"I-I'm-"
"Ennu?"
Satoshi and Pikachu are looking at him in surprise as well as every other living thing in the room. Despite having even more unwanted attention, he feels surprisingly calm and settled now with Satoshi's inquisitive gaze on him.
"It is not Ennu. It is N." He calls down. "And I came to watch your gym battle." That's right. A hero should be confident and not show any signs of weakness.
"…"
"I…i-if you don't mind." And he had tried so hard too.
"Course not!"
"Pi ka!" 'Course not!'
There was the overlap of poke-speech and human tongue again. The words come though clearly at the same time and even 'Pidove' Zorua tilts his head to get a better look at them. N is given another eye-closing wide grin from both of them and the tension drains from his shoulders a little. How odd. It was a comforting feeling. Almost like being in the presence of an Audino. Aside from Zorua, they were the only, somewhat, familiar things in the room for N.
"So who will you choose?" The gym leaders vie for his challenge and they, along everyone else, are surprised when Satoshi declares that he will fight all of them.
"Please!"
"Pikachu!" 'Please!'
There was the half bow again. The voices don't overlap, but echo this time. N isn't sure what to make of this strange boy and his equally strange Pikachu. Satoshi is open and trusting and makes N feel like he is in the presence of a pokemon of all things. But he loves battling and gyms like every other trainer and his Pikachu seems to share his sentiments. He had even chosen to take on three battles for his first gym challenge instead of the customary one. What was the point of making all that effort just to fight? It was time consuming and even more pokemon would be injured now.
N shakes his head as the gym leaders accept. He wants to leave, but he had said that he came to watch and he would keep his word. After all, heroes were supposed to keep their word.
Axew-Girl, who has been introduced as Iris, shakes her head as well. Her disbelief at the actions of the trainer from Kanto mirror his own, but this is not their fight and thus not their place to say anything.
The first battle starts off one-sided. Tepig is easily overwhelmed by Pansear, but he is just as persistent as his trainer and follows commands almost overeagerly. As if…as if he is afraid to lose. There are clear signs of neglect that N has come to recognize. Recently, this Tepig had been badly starved and abandoned. Not long enough for more obvious signs of malnutrition to show such as patchy fur and trembling limbs, but his body is leaner than it should be and there is a tightness around his snout and a general sense of worry.
N squeezed the railing in front of him with both hands as he grit his teeth. Iris and Axew did not notice as they were engrossed in the battle below.
The battle soon turns in Tepig's favor as he gets up from attacks that should have kept him down over and over again. He wins and N lets out a breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding. His arms are actually trembling. Tepig gives a fiery snort in front of his trainer, his stance proud and determined and…protective?
"Tepig? But a water type like Oshawott would be more advantageous."
"I had decided beforehand to use this little one in the first battle of the first gym."
"Why? He could have ended the battle faster with a water-type."
"Well, he did promise."
N glanced at the girl next to him and she elaborated without prompting.
"His Tepig was abandoned by its trainer for constantly losing battles and the rope used to tie it down had wrapped itself around its mouth. Tepig was unable to eat anything for a couple weeks and spent his time running around trying to get free until we found it."
Satoshi's words and expression from the beginning now make sense. This Tepig might have been taken in by Satoshi after being abandoned by a previous trainer. The signs of neglect are obvious to someone who has grown up with so many others just like that Tepig. Satoshi's choice was a gambit taken to restore Tepig's faith in himself. It was a risky one, but it has clearly paid off. There is pride and joy, and most importantly confidence in Tepig's eyes now. N still isn't sure what to think of Satoshi, but the respect N had for this human, this trainer is clearly growing.
"Still, that was incredibly chancy battle. That Tepig's certainly a tough one. He's only been getting full meals for two days now. I didn't think it'd be ready for an actual gym battle so soon."
"Hmm? Two days?"
"Yeah. It was so skinny and fast that the cameras only shadowed silhouettes of it. Satoshi had even thought it was an Umbreon at first."
Umbreon. That was another little known pokemon. He would love to meet a real one for himself. Eevees and their evolutions were popular all over the world. Not quite at the level of a Pikachu or the starters of each region, but even he had heard of them.
"What kind of trainer is Satoshi?"
"A childish one." The reply was prompt. "Reckless, but his pokemon seem to really like him. He's not too bad of a battler even if he ends up making such easy mistakes that kids in daycare know not to do. Must be that ridiculous luck of his."
Satoshi is different. Like Touko. Like Touya.
There is a searching look in Satoshi's gaze. It is watching and waiting for something from Tepig himself throughout the battle. Whatever it is, Satoshi, and Pikachu too now that he takes a closer look, seemed to have found it sometime shortly before Pansear had been taken out and now they both set on reassuring and praising the little fire-type without being smothering. Satoshi taking the lead and Pikachu as a supporting character in a scene that seems as earnest as it is rehearsed. Like this is something they've done over and over many times in the past. It's still too early to tell, but N wonders if this isn't the first time they've done this. He probably shouldn't make judgments yet. Satoshi, and by extension Pikachu, are slowly making him reevaluate his view on humans.
The red haired gym leader, Pod, thanked his Pansear kindly, despite its loss, as he recalled it. Perhaps, he would have to reevaluate his view on gym leaders as well.
The next fight against Corn and his Panpour is just as one-sided and even more painful to see. Despite the type advantage, Pikachu isn't fairing well, almost as if he was overreaching himself. While the others watch the pokemon, N watches Satoshi. He is clearly focused on the battle, but there is an internal struggle that only N seems to notice. But he is not the only one who notices when it has been settled. Satoshi straightens up and there is now a decisive air about him as he calls out his next instructions to Pikachu who is still struggling off the ground.
"Pikachu! Double Team!"
"Pi?" 'Hmm?' Now there was something he hasn't heard in a while.
The matching looks of 'knowing' and 'decisiveness' unsettled Panpour who suddenly felt as if he was facing two opponents on the battlefield instead of one. Corn did not pick up on his unease or the increased focus in his challenger, but he knew a change of strategy when he saw one.
"Pika chu!" 'You got it!'
There are suddenly five Pikachus. Then as the others look on in amazement, there are ten, fifteen, twenty scattered around the rocky field.
Satoshi grins and twenty Pikachus match his expression.
"Agility." It really was time to go back to the basics and use every trick in the book or in his case, every move in his moveset. It was somewhat of a bitter thought for both of them as it sank in that they would really have to start over as if they were just beginning again. They probably shouldn't be relying on pure power as they had done in the past. Pikachu was no longer as powerful as he was four years ago, but…with experience under their proverbial belts and a lot of hardwork, he could surpass that.
"Pikapikapikapikapikapikapika " The Pika chant echos around the room from the pasture of rippling yellow and brown that the battlefield has become. There were no words N could understand from this, but he understood that it was sort of a focus for the electric rodent as well as a an extra way of adding to the confusion of battle field.
"What the?" It's only Pod who speaks as the others seem to have lost their voice, but his words express their thoughts perfectly.
"Quick Attack!"
The command seems to bring Corn back to the battle and he snaps out a command of his own.
"Double Team, Panpour! Dodge it!"
The audience watching from the balcony can clearly see that it's hopeless as the blue islands that form are quickly swallowed up in a sea of streaking yellow. N did not realize that he was leaning forward, 'Pidove' Zorua stretched out even further on his shoulder.
Panpour is buffeted back and forth as if waves are crashing into him from every which way. Pikachu keeps him trapped in the middle, using the small boulders scattered across the field to ricochet off and change direction. Finally, the assault stops as one last Quick Attack sends Panpour tumbling head over heels towards his stunned trainer.
"Get up Panpour!"
Miraculously, battered and bruised as he is, he does as his opponent's trainer calls for a new attack.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Water gun! Aim for its feet again!"
This is the decisive move as everyone knows that neither pokemon can afford another hit and Panpour musters up all of his flagging strength to shoot off the most powerful water gun he's ever done before. There's something different though. The water gun is taking a little longer to fire off and it is warm. Uncomfortably warm. It's also much wider and far more forceful.
"That's Scald! Panpour's learned Scald!"
Everyone is in awe. Even Corn widens his eyes in surprise at the size and force of the steaming stream. There is no way for Pikachu to dodge as the spray is wide enough to encompass his entire body thrice over.
The only one who has not lost his focus is Satoshi whose own pokemon have performed the same desperate miracles time and time again. He knows exactly how it feels to be on the losing end and the lengths a pokemon will go to protect the faith and trusts its trainer has placed on it. However, he has also had much more experience in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
"Iron Tail!"
In midair, Pikachu stops the Thunderbolt, tucks himself into a ball, and proceeds to spin, his jagged lightning tail now taking on a metallic sheen and creating a wicked razor sharp saw that meets the first part of the stream head on and cleaves the rest of the attack into two arcing sprays as he rolls down the path of the Scald.
Panpour ceased the attack as he realized that Pikachu was not stopping. He braced himself for the impact and stumbled back startled when Pikachu was no longer in front of him. There is a shadow passing over his head.
"Pika." 'Hiya.'
The cheerful tone did nothing to help the terrifyingly unholy grin on Pikachu's face as his cheeks sparked. No command is needed for Pikachu to fire off a very belated Thunderbolt.
"CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
With the war cry, the room lights up and several people shield their eyes until the attack has finished.
It's clear who the winner is, but it still takes a moment for Dento to find his voice.
"The winner is Pikachu and Satoshi! Congratulations Satoshi! You've earned the-"
"Not yet! Not yet!"
"Wha-" Dento was cut off again.
"I haven't fought you yet!"
"But you already won the two battles you needed for the badge!" Iris shouted from above.
"I said it before and I'll say it again. I want to battle many different pokemon. Your Pansage is the only one I haven't faced yet."
The room went quiet as the last gym leader made his decision.
"Alright." Dento consented. "We did agree to have three matches and even though you've won the badge, I won't be letting you leave with a clean sweep for this challenge."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
The cheerleaders are absolutely ecstatic at this announcement. As the participants prepared for the final battle, 'Pidove' Zorua nudged N.
'That was pretty amazing wasn't it?' He cooed softly. 'You're squeezing the bar again and you're all sweaty.'
N blinked and looked down, noticing that his knuckles were white. He let go, watching the color return. A drop of sweat that had rolled down his cheek unnoticed plopped onto his hand.
Satoshi had already won his badge, yet he still wanted to fight like a senseless trainer. N had seen Satoshi win. He could leave now and just wait for him at the pokemon center. The trainer has shown that he is kind enough to bring his pokemon to be healed instead of forcing more training on them. But, N found himself unwilling to leave. He had never imagined that he would actually want to stay and watch an unnecessary battle, a gym battle of all things.
'Can we stay? This is really exciting!'
N really didn't feel like he had a choice as the battle began and his hands soon found their way to the railing again.
"The battle is over! The winner is Satoshi!"
"YEAH! WE DID IT!" Satoshi cheers for his Oshawott as if he had won the decisive battle for the badge not Pikachu.
It's finally over. N finds that his palms are sweaty and his heart is still pounding. He can feel the heat lingering on his cheeks still flushed with excitement. His fingers are stiff from gripping the bar so tightly for so long. If this was how it felt just watching a gym battle, what was it like to be the one participating in it? Was this strange nerve-wracking thrill the reason why so many chose to go on the path of pokemon training?
Immediately, he felt guilty. No. Pokemon were hurting others and being hurt in turn. Despite how proud they are from winning, they just didn't know. Didn't know that a better life was possible for them far, far away from humans.
With a feeling of disgust at himself, he quietly slipped away amidst the wailings of the girls and congratulations of the gym leaders. Still, despite the fact that it was gym battle of all things, this experience wasn't a waste. There's clearly a rapport between this trainer and his pokemon that N has only witnessed in people who have been with their pokemon for several years or…people like Touya and Touko.
The admittedly strange victory cheer and pose drags out a small quirk at the corner of N's frown and the sight of happy pokemon, battered as they were, fills his heart with a familiar warmth. With a soft shake of his head, N headed out the great double doors, never realizing that his eyes had softened at the sight of Satoshi receiving a well-earned badge.
'Weren't you supposed to have a chat with the Pikachu? It was the only reason you even stepped foot into the gym, remember?'
Eight and a half blocks away, N froze in mid-step as he processed the query.
With a half strangled sound of frustration dying in his throat, N whirled around, his raised foot stamping down like a Bouffalant readying to charge, and headed back at a brisk, no he was NOT running, walk towards the gym.
Inwardly snickering, Zorua decided that he wasn't going to remind N that trainers generally took their pokemon the Pokemon Center after gym battles and Satoshi was most likely already gone, heading away in the opposite direction from N.
N is his best friend. There was no denying that, but in the past few years he had changed. The kind compassionate human was still there, but he was now weighed down by this whole concept of 'perfection'. Playful, cheerful, a little impatient and prone to foot-stomping temper tantrums, the N of before was drifting farther and farther away from the N of now. His forehead wrinkled more often than not these days and his eyes were often seeing things only he could see far away. Far away from the now and especially far away from Zorua.
What was wrong with the way N was before? Before N became 'perfect'. Before N became a 'hero'.
Back when 'N' was his only name, what the young boy had chosen to call himself. Back when the only things they thought about were where the best Pecha berries grew, who could tickle old Darmanitan without waking him the longest, and how they were going to sneak more batteries out of the human settlements for the Klinks and Klangs. Back before the human who claimed to be N's sire came.
Really, though. This whole 'Hero' business with Zekrom and Reshiram was just too serious. Legendary pokemon weren't something to be trifled with. All pokemon understood that. But this was very important to N and N was very important to Zorua so Zorua would help with him with all his might.
Still as grand a dream as helping all pokemon… Still a great a goal as creating whole new worlds… Still…
What's wrong with staying here? What's wrong with staying together? What's wrong with staying with me?
N arrived at the Pokemon Center, cradling a sleeping Zorua in his arms. His illusions had faded soon after coming in contact with the floating pink particles falling throughout the city.
"Nurse! Nurse!" Some grunts had once mentioned how the women of this pink haired family dedicated to healing pokemon all shared the same uncanny likeness in both name and appearance. Even overseas. What was her name again? Something about happiness? Happy. Happy. Joy. Joy?
"Another one?"
There is Satoshi in front of the counter with Pikachu. Dento, the Pansage trainer behind him. Iris, as well as several other people now that he looked around, were all holding pokemon in the same state of unending slumber as Zorua.
A woman with long black hair, was showing them Axew's dream through her Munna's dream smoke. Doctor Makomo, if he remembered correctly. A scientist who studied the realms of dreams and the effects of the dream smoke given off by her pokemon's evolutionary line. He had heard that she was still living in the city, but could this incident have anything to do with her?
Zorua, along with the rest of the pokemon in the center, were awakened by Munna and N's interest had piqued at seeing the dreams of the various pokemon around him. More and more people were coming in though, bringing sleeping pokemon with them. Whatever was causing this had to be stopped at its source.
"Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon. Zorua hides its true form by changing its shape into people and Pokémon, and loves to surprise people."
N turned at the sound of Satoshi's pokedex. His lips twisted slightly in distaste at the sight of the red and black machine. Iris and Dento were a little farther off watching Makomo and Munna work, but Satoshi and Pikachu were behind N gazing down at the digital screen.
"Eh? Really? I thought that was only him. Guess it's in their nature huh?" Satoshi murmured softly.
"Pi Pika. Pikachu." 'Guess so,' agreed Pikachu. 'Then again he was still just a cub.'
"Heh. Sorta like when we first met. You sure gave me all sorts of trouble." There was a teasing lilt to his tone.
Pikachu scoffed. 'Not like you didn't deserve it.' His cheeks sparked as he gently rubbed it against Satoshi's face and quickly snatched off his hat.
"Hey!" Satoshi's hair was now sticking up at all angles making him look rather strange and Zorua couldn't help snickering out loud.
Strangely enough, only N and Zorua had witnessed the pair's teasing exchange. They were now grinning sheepishly. Satoshi rubbing the back of his head at the rather intense look N was giving him. Pikachu quickly groomed Satoshi's hair down, tiny sparks dancing between his claws as he neutralized the charge he had given his partner. The hat was hung from his tail as he worked and was snuggly settled back on top of the black hair once he was done.
"Hi, Zorua. I'm Satoshi and this is my buddy, Pikachu."
"Pika!" 'Hello!'
It was a little astonishing to witness a human address a pokemon as if it was human itself.
"Zoru! Zorua zor ru." 'Hi! You two are funny. I like you.' He leapt up from the floor onto N's shoulder. 'I saw your battle earlier. You're both pretty good.'
"Pika chu!" 'Thank you!'
"Zorua!" 'I'm kinda curious as to how you'll do against us.'
What on earth was he saying? Was Zorua implying that he wanted to battle? With N? Against Satoshi and Pikachu?
N frowned. "Zor-"
"Pikapi!" 'Satoshi!'
"Eh? A battle huh?" The light that had burned in Satoshi's eyes during the gym battle flickered to life. "Alright when do you want to do it? We'll take you on any time!"
Either Satoshi really did understand pokemon or Pikachu could communicate everything he wanted in a single word.
"I don't wa-"
"But first I got a question. Zorua, can you speak human?"
N jerked a little.
"What?"
"We've met a Zorua and his mom not too long ago. They could speak human. I was just wondering if all Zorua could do it too?"
Zorua shook his head.
"Zor." 'No.'
"Hmmm. I guess they were just special then. Kinda like Lucario."
Lucario. Another little known pokemon. Maybe Satoshi could tell him about them? Wait. He was getting off track. He had to focus on his most pressing question.
"Satoshi. Can you spe-"
"Satoshi! N!"
Apparently, this was interrupt N day.
Makomo arrived, her Munna looking a little stuffed like it had just been gorging itself on a large feast. Which it apparently had, if the number of awakened pokemon greeting their respective humans were any indication.
"There's just too many of them. We need to head to the source of what's causing this phenomenon."
"Right." Satoshi quickly checked to make sure that he had his bag before leaving with the others who had already gathered their own things. While the others were heading out, N watched Pikachu who was subtly ensuring the recently returned pokeballs were the right ones with a discreet sniff. He watched as Pikachu picked up each one he had deemed okay and handed it to Satoshi who in turn shrunk and clipped it to his belt holster. He watched as Pikachu participated in a long practiced ritual to ensure that these were truly his comrades under the guidance of their trainer. He watched as Pikachu gave his nod of approval and leapt onto Satoshi's shoulders as the boy turned away, fully trusting in his partner's judgement.
The group trooped out the automatic double doors only to be met by an Officer Junsa who informed them to keep their pokemon with their pokeballs.
Here Satoshi hesitated.
"The thing is, my Pikachu doesn't like being in a pokeball…"
The others stared at him for a moment, before N added with an almost approving look towards the boy.
"Neither does Zorua."
Makomo quickly remedied that with hats and N had to smile a little. Dr. Makomo wasn't a bad human, but it was unfortunate that more people couldn't be more accepting like her.
Minutes later, N found himself squeezed into the back of a police car next to Satoshi. Dento on the other side of the young trainer and Iris next to the opposite window from N. Technically, it was only meant to hold three as that was the number of seat belts there, but this Junsa apparently didn't mind a little rule breaking at the moment. Especially in an emergency like this and they couldn't leave anyone behind as everyone had been rather insistent. N had never actually been in a real car before, much less as police car and as such had never actually worn a restraint of the kind for a moving vehicle, so it never really passed through his mind as more than a curious thought.
This was as good a time as any to start up a conversation now that Makomo had given explanations of the ill-fated research lab from the past and everyone had sunk into a contemplative silence.
"Satoshi."
"Hmm? What is it En-ne?"
"It's N. N."
"En-nuh."
"N."
"Ennu. En-"
N grimaced a little inwardly. He didn't want to get sucked back into this conversation at the moment.
"Close enough. How often does Pikachu go into his pokeball?"
"Eh? Never really. He really doesn't like being in it and I don't want to force him to do something he hates. In fact the last time he was in one was…"
At this Satoshi and Pikachu both looked at each other and sank into a thoughtful silence. Memories of the Spearow flock, a cold cave in the middle of a blizzard, consequent captures by Team Rocket, and many many more times where he should have been returned if only for his own safety flashed through their minds.
"…the day Pikachu and I first met each other. The day we started our journey together."
His eyes were a little off gazing back down memory lane before snapping down to meet Pikachu's.
"That's right buddy. We've been together for a long time haven't we?" It wasn't really a question. More of a soft statement.
Two sets of dark brown eyes gazed at each other, warm and meaningful and so very loving. Both lost in their own little world.
"Pika chu." 'Yeah. We have.' Pikachu's reply was just as soft as tiny paws gripped tightly onto Satoshi's gloved hands.
N hardly dared to breathe. He wanted to ask more. How long have they known each other? What other pokemon had they met? What kinds of things did they believe in? But he was afraid. Afraid to break such a moment. Afraid to shatter the powerful aura that kept everyone else silent in the cramped backseat of a police cruiser.
For just a heartbeat, his convictions cracked as he gazed at something that was against everything he believed in. For just a heartbeat, he wondered if he was wrong for wanting to separate something so beautiful, so pure, so…natural.
Yet for several heartbeats afterwards, he felt lighter than he had in a long time. More relaxed and oddly enough happy. How long had it been? He hadn't realized how stressed he was. Could emotions be infectious?
It didn't matter as the moment was broken anyways by their arrival to the Dream Yard.
Was it a coincidence? Or was it just a small world that Satoshi and Pikachu seemed so intimately familiar with these particular members Team Rocket?
The battle was over soon enough without unnecessary injuries or involvement in his and Zorua's part. Pikachu and Munna's tag team efforts worked wonderfully. Musharna's affection for Makomo and vice versa was clear to see and he felt a slight pang that more humans couldn't truly care for pokemon like this.
More questions had arisen though. How and why did a Meowth learn human speech? Was it due to a human's meddling? He wasn't sure if Meowth were psychic pokemon, but generally psychics preferred to speak mind to mind. If the Meowth wasn't…then it was rather odd and maybe even unnatural. He wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt though and would have to find some way to arrange a meeting without the feline's human companions.
What was Team Rocket's purpose here? Should Team Plasma try for liberation from them first? Either way, they were a bit more dangerous than expected and these were only minor questions shoved to the side for the moment while he absently pondered on the Meowth Quandary as he called it.
N and Zorua had said their good byes, turning down the offer for a ride back to town. The car hadn't exactly been a comfortable fit, and he wanted to take a look around the ruins of the lab. He should also be making his way back west to check on the progress of the other potential, and here his eyes hardened at the thought, trainers.
By the time they leave, N realized that he had forgotten to ask if Satoshi can talk to pokemon. Nor has he had a chance to really talk to Pikachu.
He said something that he had overheard from a grunt when he was younger. Something that Concordia had scolded him harshly for. "Heroes shouldn't say such foul things!"
He still felt that maybe the heroes of old would agree with him for his choice of words at this moment.
"Damn it."
Zorua just snickered.
'Guess we'll just have to follow them a little longer huh?'
N groaned in frustration. Zorua's possible offer for a battle earlier came to the forefront of his mind.
"Zorua. Did you plan this?"
The little fox-like creature gave him a far too innocent look and tilted his head cutely as he continued on, ignoring the question.
'He's a pokemon trainer isn't he? All we have to do is get to the closest city with a gym and wait.'
"There are several different ones he could choose from. There are more than eight gym leaders and at least a few smaller towns with gyms. The closest one would be Nacrene City, but there is no guarantee they will head there first."
'Maybe if we hurry, we can catch up before they're too far from town then.'
"Zorua." N's tone was a little admonishing even as he picked up his pace
'Hurry up! Or we'll miss 'em!'
N sighed as he began asking the local Pidoves for any sightings of a bright yellow rodent together with a human with a red hat, his previous query forgotton.
I think it's a problem when my author notes are almost as long if not longer than the story itself. There shouldn't be as many later, but from now on, most of them will be at the bottom so you can just skip them if you want. And I know that I completely fail with N's personality and his full name will be used later on, but only as a character development/plot thing. Battle scenes will be skimmed over unless I'm making them up. No need to rehash most of the early ones.
There were so many time that I had to go back though this chapter and change the names of the pokemon from their Japanese ones to the English ones. OTL I couldn't handle the voices in dub so I only watch it in Japanese hence the reason I have to remember the English names for these pokemon.
(1)So who hasn't slacked off and ditched what should be your main priority for something more interesting or fun? With such a high rank in Team Plasma there aren't many that in it that will say no to him. Several even seem to genuinely care for him. So he's can sneak off back to the earlier towns and odds are no one will say a word no matter what they think. Plus most of them are further ahead, getting in the way of the game protagonists or preparing for the confrontation with Team Rocket from the cancelled episodes.
(2)Remember way back in the first season when Ash caught Krabby? It's pokeball disappeared, but when he catches Sewaddle in Best Wishes, the pokeball just locks itself.
(3)Ash's character design was redone to have lighter eyes in this season. That really bugged me for a while until I finally sat down for a BW marathon week. His eyes have always been brown, but you couldn't really tell unless they decided to do a close up of them in a really serious or touching scene. It's the same with Pikachu. I just decided to go with the older designs for his eyes.
(4)I'm pretty sure that Ash will have some sort of heavy accent. Although it's probably not noticeable in the show since everyone speaks Japanese/a common language, accents can vary even within one state/province. Then there's the running gag with Kenyan, but everybody gets his name wrong so that probably doesn't count. This is probably going to be the same with N and Ash.
(5)N froze because he was surprised. Bowing is more commonly done in Asian countries (especially Japan) and you don't see as much of it in America which is where Isshu is based off of. People in Team Plasma don't count as he's probably gotten used to anyone in that uniform doing it. They're most likely kneeling instead of bowing anyways.
(6)The first season clearly has legible Japanese signs and characters, while the writing in Isshu seems like strange text about as decipherable as the footprint runes from the mystery dungeon games. I'm not sure if Ash can actually read a thing in this new region. Dento seems to be the one doing it and he's usually reading it out loud for the others. Ash is probably looking more for familiar symbols than anything else, like red roofed pokemon centers and restaurants with several pictures on their menus. Here N is the first person to catch on that Ash can't read most of the text here. No one else is going to notice for a while. Not a big deal now, but it's a small set up for a later event.
(7)Taking a little something from Dragonball here. Ever wonder how Brock managed to have a whole table and rice cooker with him at all times or how Ash and the girls had sleeping bags, when their back pack was barely big enough to hold more than a few sets of clothes or how your character managed to fit a bicycle and 999 of over half the items in the game into a messenger bag? I'm guessing if they can turn living creatures into pure energy and stuff it into shrinkable balls, then they can do the same thing with inanimate objects. These storage capsules are for larger/heavier items and are part of the starting package that trainers get along with extra pokeballs and the pokedex. More can be bought, but as they are somewhat expensive, most trainers only carry the basics of what they need along with a set of clothes.
Ash never really seems to use his pokedex to actually look up his pokemon's moves and stats even after Paul brings it up in Diamond and Pearl. I'm not sure if it's done offscreen, he actually forgot, or if he just likes the feeling of discovering something new on his own. On another note, Ash can run into more rare pokemon on a weekly basis than most people ever see in their entire lives and he never really brings them up. Do the professors who are supposed to be studying that data just stick his old pokedex on a shelf and go back to whatever they're doing at the time?
Interesting trivia from Bulbapedia:
-The date of Ash's birth, according to Takeshi Shudo's anime novelizations, is 10 years, 10 months, and 10 days exactly prior to the day he began his Pokémon journey. Being that the same novelization declares that Pokémon Trainers obtain their first Pokémon in April of the year following their 10th birthday, and the anime itself began broadcast on the first of that month in 1997 in Japan, Ash's birthday, if April 1 was the first day of his journey, would be May 22.
I averaged his age by the movies. In the short mini from the 3rd movie, the group has a party and Ash tells Pikachu, it's their one year anniversary together. So I averaged that for every 3 movies, he gets a year older. Given the info above, he probably should be 15 in this fic, but I have an anniversary/birthday scene planned out for the future. So for now Ash will be 14 and turn 15 later.
More character ages.
Trip/Shooti-Age: 11
Most trainers seem to be older than 10/11 as the protagonists in the games actually look like teenagers. I think the standards for age appropriate things are different here the way same way America and Japan have differing views for what's acceptable for kids to watch. They might actually have the same rules, but maybe it's tradition for starting trainers to be a little older here.
The reason I set Iris at 11 is because I feel that she is probably considered mature enough to actually go off on a journey alone and survive. Iris has been shown running in a jungle with wild pokemon and brawling with them at an early age unattended by adults.
Touko(White)/Touya(Black)-Age: 15
They are twins and travel together taking on the gyms. Touko is the older more spirited one and Touya is the quiet younger brother. They may get fleshed out a more if they appear as something other than passing mentions. Currently about two cities ahead of Ash. Childhood friends to Cheren and Bel.
Cheren-Age:15
Bianca/Bel-Age:15