At Roma's suggestion, Rose waited for about a half hour before continuing on to Accumula Town. She craned her neck to look up the buildings that rose up on each side. She had never seen buildings so tall, at least, not that she could remember.
"Are all towns as big as this?" She asked. Roma chuckled from her shoulder and shook his head.
"This place is small compared to most of the region, or at least, from what I've seen in books."
"You had books?" Rose raised an eyebrow.
"No, of course not. I used to sneak into human's houses and go through their stuff." He winked. "At first, I was just hungry. But eventually I started looking at their other things. I can't read human books, but I could understand the pictures." The Snivy sighed, a look of longing in his caramel eyes.
"Someday, we'll both be rich and powerful, and I'll buy you a whole library of books."
"I would like that." He smiled, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. "But for now, we must focus on the task at hand. You see that store over there? I think that is a clothing store, let's check it out."
The two entered said store and discovered that Roma was right, it was a cute little clothing store. Rose began to look at a rack filled with some summer dresses when Roma stopped her.
"If you are going to conceal your identity, you're going to have to dress more…masculine." He explained, pointing towards a rack filled with pants and t-shirts.
"Oh…" She replied, slightly disappointed. Her companion patted her head gently.
"Someday, we'll both be rich and powerful, and I'll buy you a whole wardrobe full of dresses." He mimicked, sending her a grin.
After riffling through some pants and shirts, the pair finally found some suitable clothes that fit their budget. They were all on the bargain shelf, but that didn't bother Rose. She would have time to look pretty later. She purchased the items with some change to spare and dashed off to the changing rooms, where Rose made Roma stay outside. She looked up as she was about to change and was startled to see someone else in the room with her.
"R-Roma!" She chirped, dropping her new purchases.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Roma asked, slipping into the room and looking around.
"Why is this person in here?" She gulped, pointing. Roma laughed and fell to the floor, clutching his sides.
"You silly human, that's you! That's a mirror!" He giggled. Rose titled her head in confusion and looked up again.
What stood before her looked frail in every sense of the word. She was thin in an elegant, but fragile way, like a glass sculpture. Her skin was pale and her eyes wide and afraid. Long, sweeping lashes surrounded her crystalline orbs, which were the color of the sea. She didn't like them, they looked too much like a lifeless doll's eyes. Her hair was short in the back, not even reaching her neck, but in the front and the sides it reached down to her ribcage, one side of her face covered with a swept aside bang. Said hair was a rather dull shade of blonde, reminiscent of fields of grain.
"That…that is me?" She questioned, reaching one hand forward and touching the reflective glass. Roma stared at her with scrutiny.
"You don't even know what you look like?" He shook his head sadly and placed a hand on her leg comfortingly.
"I look so…weak." She breathed, taking note of the purplish color under her eyes. Roma smiled and picked up the baggy jeans they had selected together.
"Me too. Don't worry, we'll work on this together." She accepted the clothing from him, returning the smile.
"Together."
After a few minutes of dressing and adjusting to her new clothes, Rose and Roma left the small shop. She was now wearing some baggy jean pants that hid her curves, a baby blue sweatshirt that was rather shapeless, a white hat that she piled all of her hair into, a pair of cheap sunglasses and a light green messenger bag with a Snivy on it that Roma insisted they needed.
While Trainer and Pokemon began to decide whether to risk venturing into the local Pokemon center, a large gathering and a booming voice caught their attention.
"Should we check it out?" She asked, her Pokemon nodded and they stepped forward, lingering in the back of the crowd.
"My name is Ghetsis!" A man announced, stepping forward. He was tall and had a commanding presence, grabbing the attention of people and Pokemon alike. He had tea green hair that rolled down his shoulders, and an odd red eyepiece over his right eye. Something about him made Rose shiver involuntarily. Roma took notice and tensed up, keeping his eyes pointed at the strange man.
"I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokemon liberation…" He began, before delving into an intricate speech. He spoke about Pokemon liberation, explaining that Pokemon were enslaved and tortured by humans. He told the crowd about his wish to free Pokemon from humans and live in a world of harmony. Rose was touched. When he was finished, he and the group of men he was with gathered up and marched away, and after a few brief discussions, the crowd dispersed, leaving Rose to contemplate what she had heard.
"Don't listen to them, Rose." Roma started before the human could speak. She knelt on the ground and placed him before her, uncertainty in her eyes.
"But Roma, they have a point. Humans do make Pokemon battle. And for what? Entertainment? Money? How selfish!"
"That's not what it's about at all. It's about growing, on the outside, and in here." He explained, placing his hand above her heart. "Yes, it's true that some people abuse Pokemon, but they are the exception, not the rule. Do you really think Pokemon liberation is a good idea? Do you want me to be liberated?"
"No!" She yelled, snatching the little green Pokemon up in her arms. "I…I don't know! I know I want you with me, but I also don't want to force you into anything."
"I know that. I chose to be with you, remember? You haven't forced me into anything. You and me are friends, right?" She nodded fiercely. "Good. Don't forget that. I'm not your slave, and you aren't my master. We are friends, and friends help each other grow and take care of each other."
"Your Pokemon…just now, it was saying…" A voice spoke. Rose turned and froze.
Before her was a man she had never seen before, but something resonated inside of her, as if he was old friend whose name she just couldn't place. He was tall, almost six feet she guessed, with long legs and lean build. He wore khaki pants and a tight black undershirt that hugged every muscle which was covered with a loose white shirt. Golden bangles adorned his wrists, while a strange necklace hung around his neck and an odd cube dangled from a chain attached to his waist. Beneath his black and white hat was a head of tea green hair that fell low on his back, held in a loose pony tail. His face was calm, but curious, with wide gray eyes that stared at Roma with a childlike innocence.
Rose had seen that same look in her own eyes earlier.
"Hey, it's rude to eavesdrop." Roma huffed, placing his hands on his hips.
"Roma, calm down." Rose chuckled, placing the aggravated Snivy back on the ground. "You were speaking loudly, and you shouldn't be embarrassed to admit we are friends."
"You can speak to Pokemon?" The mysterious man asked, appearing shocked.
"Yes. Roma says that it's odd. But it seems you can too, so it can't be that odd, can it?" The man smiled softly before returning his attention back to the Snivy.
"So, Roma, you are friends with this human, even though she confines you to a Pokeball?" He asked, bending down to get closer to the Pokemon. Roma huffed again and glared at the man.
"Yes. I feel like I already established that. Rose is my friend. She doesn't confine me at all. If anything, I'm freer now than I ever was before." He explained. "If it wasn't for Rose, I wouldn't have been able to come to this town in the daytime, or see what a clothing store looks like, or battle with confidence."
"Hmm, so she has made you stronger you say?" The man asked, a glint appearing in his eye. "How about you prove it? What do you say, Rose? Let me hear the voice of your Pokemon!" He stepped back and reached into his pocket, pulling out a Pokeball and tossing it into the air. A purple Pokemon appeared before them, meowing its challenge.
"Are you ready, Roma?" Rose asked, stepping back and giving the two Pokemon space.
"Always." He replied, grinning a wicked smile. Both Pokemon charged forward and both Trainers called out commands which were obediently carried out. The man's Pokemon, which Rose recognized as a Purrloin, leapt forward with raking claws, while Roma flung himself at his opponent, crashing into its abdomen and sending it flying. The Purrloin recovered quickly, snarling and running back to Roma, who was caught off guard and received damage, much to Rose's horror.
"Calm down, Rose! You need to keep your head in the game. If you panic, I'll panic. I'm counting on you to have my back here, can I trust you?" He grunted, getting back to his feet.
"Of course! I'm sorry, it won't happen again. Roma, tackle! Like you mean it this time!" She teased, receiving a lopsided grin from her partner. Roma charged the Purrloin, mustering all his strength, and made contact. The Purrloin was thrown back forcefully, so much so that it crashed into Rose, knocking her off her feet.
"Rose!" Roma cried out, eyes widening. The girl fell to the ground, with a loud thud, knocking off her hat and sunglasses. She clutched the Purrloin, breaking its fall, to which it purred softly its thanks. Before Roma could reach her, the strange man had already kneeled down by her side.
"A-are you okay?" He asked her, voice filled with panic and concern. Rose laughed softly and smiled up at him, her aqua eyes glistening.
"Yes, I think I just bruised my butt though!" She giggled, rubbing her lower back. The man froze, as if struck by lightning, and stared.
He had never seen anything so beautiful before.
Her Snivy ran up to her, leaping into her arms and burying his face in the crook of her neck, spewing apologies that she immediately forgave. Her eyes shone bright, like stars beaming down upon him. Her hair was long and danced in the slight breeze that passed them, appearing to glow like sun beams.
And her smile.
Her lips were pulled up so sweetly, like two rose petals coming together perfectly. He never wanted it to end. He wanted to see her smile all the time, every minute of every day.
She looked up at him, noticing his staring, and pink dusted her cheeks. He shook his head and felt his own cheeks warming up.
"I-I'm N." He announced, holding out a hand to her. She stared for a second, unsure, before her Snivy mimicked the motion of shaking hands, which she then copied, placing her hand in his. Without really thinking, he brought her hand to his lips, pressing them gently to the back of it and grinned up at her. Her whole face turned red and she blinked several times looking absolutely lost.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Rose." He purred. She opened her mouth to speak, when suddenly a shout from behind interrupted her.
"Hey! There's that girl who stole the Snivy!"