(POV: Rui)
I waited, and to noone's surprise, Wes stormed out angrily. I sighed.
He never was good with younger people. I walked in. I stood next to him.
"He busted your rib pretty good."
He smiled weakly.
"I've never seen a scientist with that much strength."
I reached out and gently moved a strand of hair from in front of his face. To this day, I still don't know why. It, surprisingly, didn't bother him. He sighed.
"I assume you've met my aquaintance Wes."
He nodded, his smile gone.
"He...scares me."
I laughed a bit.
"Yeah...he can be intimidating if you don't know him."
"That scientist...he said they have a way...to turn Pokemon into heartless beasts...he was bluffing, right? Right?"
I shook my head. His eyes widened.
"No...no!"
He grabbed his ears and curled up.
"No! They have him...it can't be true...it can't be..."
I put my hand on his shoulder. He continued to flip out, but he slowly started eying me.
"It's okay. We can heal him."
He stopped and looked at me, hands still over his ears. He looked kind of odd in that pose. His back was up and his legs bent upwards. He watched me for a moment as his eyes focused again.
I smiled weakly. It was now apparent that he had something-probably minor autism or something. I mentally shrugged it off. I could tell he was a lot younger mentally than physically, what with that breakdown and his hiding behind me. That's when I noticed the IV.
"I'll be back."
I found a nurse.
"What is the IV for?"
I asked, careful not to sound angry or annoyed.
"There are some inconsistencies in his nervous system. Probably from electrically-induced paralysis."
"Oh. Thanks! And, er, how long does he need here to recuperate?"
She thought for a moment.
"A few hours, probably."
I smiled. "Thank you!"
I think he fell asleep when I was gone. Either that or a sedative was put in him.
I finally got a good look at him. He was wearing really casual clothes, with some kind of necklace-thing. And he had a monochrome rubix cube. "That looks pointless."
Then I noticed his hair. It had to be at least twice the length of mine, and it was GREEN. Seriously. His hair is GREEN.
(third person)
Rui watched N.
"We'll be back..."
She muttered, turning around.
She walked out to the waiting room, sitting next to the exasperated Wes.
"Okay, so what did you find out?"
"Apparently Cipher has one of his pokemon, probably one he's strongly bonded with. They told him about Shadows-he assumed they-"
Wes clamped his hand over her mouth.
"Let's continue this outside."
He said in an obviously sarcastic way. Once they'd both walked outside, she leaned against a wall while he paced.
"-that they were lying. When I confirmed they weren't he-"
She paused, trying to think of a way to explain it.
"He went into an upright fetal position with his hands on his ears. He's probably a high-functioning autistic or something."
Wes sighed.
"Great. He's mentally incoherent and Cipher has a friend of his. Now I have more dead weight I have to deal with."
She punched his arm.
"What did I say?"
"He's a nice person."
"You know what happens when nice people get tangled with Cipher? They die."
"I thought you didn't care."
"Well you obviously do. And dealing with you when your angry is far worse than being on the brink of death."
She rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, I could use some food to calm my nerves."
Wes nodded.
"There's a local KFP."
"Great."
Wes and Rui walked to the KFP and ate an unknown amount of food. The bill was huge, but Wes had far more than enough money.
The Shadow Triad were standing outside a cave.
"...This is it."
Spouted the first abruptly. The second nodded.
The third shook his head.
"Anyway, now we report back to Ghetsis. We got two perfectly good fair maidens."
He chuckled.
"I knew those two would be of more use than making sure N didn't come out a blood knight."
The other two smirked and followed as he turned around.
"Those two...they'll fulfill their roles soon. As for the boy..."
He smiled evilly.
"He won't last long should he oppose."
They walked over to their transport: An Alakazam. It teleported them into a room where Ghetsis and Achroma (His English name is Corless, they both mean 'without color', I just like the sound of Achroma better).
"I assume you found the chasm?"
They nodded.
Achroma bowed.
"Honored to meet you...er..."
"Just call us by our groups' title, the Shadow Triad."
"Very well then. I just finished explaining the works of my device to Ghetsis here...it controls pokemon."
"Interesting."
The Shadow Triad stood for a moment. Their current codenames were Heero (The speaker), Duo (The middle ground), and Trowa (the mostly silent one).
"We've located Kyurem, sir. Should we...?"
Ghetsis shook his head.
"Not quite yet. There are several problems we must attend to first."
"Yes sir. Our next assignment?"
"Find the boy...if possible, steal that dragon of his."
All three nodded.
"Dismissed."
They turned and exited.
"And Achroma?"
"Yes, mi'lord?"
"Check Mt. Pyre. That 'hurricane' is suspicious."
"Yes sir!"
Achroma bowed and exited as well.
"Soon...I'll be on top of the world!"
Cried Ghetsis to himself. He lifted himself onto his feet with his canesword (Cane that has a sword hidded inside) and walked to a window, watching the scenery.
Achroma mounted a Skamary, flying off towards Hoen.
That is no hurricane. Hurricanes do not stay in place like that, at least not normally, and its been over land for hours without losing size in the slightest.
Several hours passed before he arrived. He found the building and entered. After scouring the corridors of the upper right section, he found a hidden switch. He flipped it, revealing a large open room. Ein was on the other side of the room, eying him.
"Who are you?"
Asked Achroma suddenly, watching Ein. His Skamary was at his side.
"Considering you're the one in my lab, I ought to be asking that question."
Ein stood, hand open in front of his face.
"That uniform...you're a part of Plasma, are you not?"
"Neo Plasma, to be specific. I must ask, where did you get the funds for-"
"Why are you here?"
Achroma smirked.
"I see. Not one for pleasantries, are you? I must say, that 'hurricane' you made isn't fooling anyone. At least, anyone impor-"
He was cut off by the sound of a handgun being clicked.
"Go back, and tell Ghetsis that those who interfere with our plans do not leave alive."
Achroma backed up, and disappeared in a flash of light. Suddenly, he was in Mauville.
"What the-who're you?"
Wes ran over, disturbed by his sudden appearance.
Achroma backed up.
That little! He must have had an Abra next to the door! But...must have been evolved...but it hid so well-
"Answer the question"
He backed up.
"Oh. I am-"
He looks dangerous. Perhaps I should hold my identity from him for now.
"You are?"
Impatient kid!
"I am a scientist. I was out collecting samples and I guess I startled an Abra or-"
Wes smirked.
"You're obviously a scientist, and even I know Abra can only teleport themselves and what's around them-both, or just them self."
"Then I suppose it was a Kadabra-"
"You're awfully unaware for a scientist. That's a big difference."
"Wes!"
"What?"
"Stop being rude!"
"Rude! Just look at him?"
"He's wearing a lab coat. What about it?"
"What scientist would ever have that kind of hair?"
"His hair doesn't say anything about him."
Wes face plamed.
Achroma eyed them.
I feel like I've seen her before...
Wes grumbled.
"Fine! Even though he's obviously evil, if I attack him you'll just say 'but thou musn't!' So I won't bother."
Achroma walked away.
It doesn't seem they're onto me...okay then, I'll just...wait.
He saw N out the window.
He pulled out his phone and quickly sent a text to Heero stating N's position. Smirking, he left town.
If things continue to go the way they've been going, soon us Plasma- or Neo Plasma- will be on top of the world!
Achroma left, Wes watching him.
"Something doesn't feel right..."
Rui blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"...I need to talk to that kid."
Wes walked into the hospital and found N.
"Who exactly are you?"
N blinked, not realizing what he meant.
"I told you, my name is-"
Wes pounded the wall.
"I didn't ask your name, I asked who you are!"
"What do you mean, I already-"
"You aren't a normal person, that's obvious. You a part of any group?"
His eyes widened.
"Not anymore...I used to be."
"Then that's probably why Cipher captured you!"
Wes threw his hands out, exasperated. His hands were clenched and his knuckles were white.
"But I'm not Plasma's leader anymore!"
"...you...are the leader...of a group...that Cipher thinks is a threat. I smell maniplation."
N was teary eyed.
"Oh I get it. You're a symbol!"
Wes facepalmed, a massive grin on his face.
"I THOUGHT it was odd that Cipher would target someone so weak!"
N faced the window.
"I'm not weak. I've gone against the champion of my region's pokemon league...and the elite four...and I defeated them all in one go."
"...Wait...what? Pokemon...league?"
N nodded.
"They're the best of the best."
"...Pokemon battles, right?"
N nodded. Wes was suddenly dead serious.
"Pokemon battles...are a sport here? Where I'm from..."
N faced him, confused.
"Where I'm from, its how we kill each other."
N was shocked.
"You make pokemon...kill people?"
"Where I'm from, we don't fight to see who's stronger. We fight to take the other person's life."
N was looking at the floor. "...Go away..."
Wes complied and exited the building. N's fist were tight.
"...They have him. He trusted me...and I allowed this to happen..."
N slowly relaxed his hand.
"...They said they could heal them...but it won't come to that. I won't let it."
The nurse returned.
"Sorry, but for this next bit you have to be put under."
"Wha-"
She injected some sedatives into him and he passed out.
Wes gestured for Rui to follow and led her to a PC in the pokemon center.
"That kid's apparently the 'leader' of a group called Plasma. I'm going to look it up and see what I can find."
Access Internet . . . complete open search subject: Team Plasma A group of pokemon sympathetic trainers who see pokemon trainers as people who enslave pokemon and force them to do the person's bidding. Their goal was to use Zekrom to frighten the people into obedience and have them release their pokemon.
Okay, no. Am I the only person who immediately thinks of foul play here?"
"Murder?"
"Foul play doesn't always refer to murder, Rui. I mean manipulation."
"Huh?"
Wes facepalmed.
"Look. They set up as wanting to free pokemon, right? But they use pokemon to do it. Topping that off is the fact their leader is a child."
"So?"
"Children are blind to what they cause. As a result, they believe whatever they're told. As a result...?"
"..."
Wes face palmed again.
"He was probably raised to be blind to what he was doing. 'Liberating' pokemon? By force? Someone is using that child to obtain power. Or was, since he made it clear he isn't in that position anymore. If they forced the people to release their pokemon, who says they would have to as well?"
Rui gasped.
Wes sighed.
"I don't know why I bother using up so much time to explain these things..."
Wes closed a few menus and then turned off the computer.
"...If that's correct, he doesn't have a home. We should just leave him."
"What? We can't just leave him here! You said it yourself, he'll be killed!"
"If we take him with us, he'll get us killed!"
Rui gave him an angry glare.
"So you're saying we should leave him, a nice guy who hasn't done anything wrong, to die?"
"I'm not sure his body count is at zero. Besides, we can't afford the risk of dead weight like him!"
She crossed her arms.
"He's coming or I'm staying."
"...Damn it."
"So you're giving in?"
Wes nodded.
"I can't believe I'm doing this..."
They walked into the hotel, where N's operation had ended. N was sitting in the waiting room, looking at the floor. Wes approached him and looked at his face. N looked into his eyes for a second and then looked down.
I guess he's afraid of me...
Thought Wes as he watched N.
I guess you aren't totally hopeless after all.
Wes abruptly asked N,
"do you want to help your friend or not?"
N blinked, confused. After a few seconds he nodded.
"Then you're coming with us."
N sighed and slowly stood.
"Cat got your tongue or do you just not have anything to say?"
N looked up.
"Why would anyone do that? Typical, worthless humans..."
Wes gave him a blank stare.
"...where are you from?"
"Unova."
Wes's eyes widened and he broke into a hysteric fit of laughter.
"You-kid, you haven't seen...anything-AHAHAHA!"
He was having a hard time getting his laughter to stop.
Rui blinked.
Wes slowly regained control of himself.
"If you were from, where I was from, you would be dead."
N rolled his eyes and followed silently.
Wes checked into a hotel.
"...We stay here for the night, in the morning..."
He shook his head.
"We'll see then."
They walked into a three bed room.
Wes set the snag machine and his sword next to one. He silently laid down on his back, staring at the ceiling and acting asleep. Rui got under the covers of a second and instantly fell asleep.
N sat on the third, looking at the ground. Eventually he sighed and laid down.
After a few minutes, he fell asleep, and started having nightmares.
(POV: N) (And before you ask: No. Not that kind. Egh.)
That night was the first. I'd have these these dreams that...I can't explain. In this one I was standing in front of the two dragons. Unlike before, both of them had creepy emotionless faces. I felt a warmth in my hand for a second and the Black Dragon Zekrom, the one I had used, walked over to me and turned, facing the White Dragon Reshiram, its counterpart. Suddenly Reshiram screamed. They both tended to do that to their chosen heroes before befriending them, but this was different. It was...angry. Even before when I was fighting its chosen, it didn't seem angry. Zekrom didn't do anything as it swatted me with a vicious swipe. The ground disappeared and I fell into a void. A sudden extreme pain filled me and I awoke with a muffled scream.
"R...Reshiram...why..."
I muttered as I curled up. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I slowly relaxed and hung my feet over the bed's edge.
(third person)
N faced Rui, who after a few seconds lifted her hand.
"Sorry you had to get involved in this..."
She muttered, turning and walking a short distance. N sighed and stood.
"I had a terrible dream..."
Rui faced him.
"You looked...distressed...while you were asleep."
"I had a dream...one of my friends, Reshiram...he attacked me, viciously."
"What the heckinda name is Reshiram?"
"It's a pokemon..."
"Oh, sorry..."
She nodded as she apologized and then paused again.
"You're...something else. When you first showed up...that 'blather' was pokespeak, wasn't it?"
N nodded.
"Heh. You know, I think you're just about the opposite of Wes."
"How so?"
"You're so concerned about your friends, you can't fight at all...you learn pokespeak, he teaches english."
N tilted his head.
"He...taught his Pokemon English?"
She nodded.
Something suddenly caught his eye.
"Those are pokeballs on your belt?"
He asked, pointing.
She nodded, backing away slightly. N, not sure why, backed away as well.
"Oh, soo you're a trainer..."
"True, but mine consist of a young, hyper Togetic and an old, out-oh-his-prime Pikachu. Wes's..."
She looked out the window.
"His are trained extensively. It got to the point where they stopped getting stronger from regular battles, so he has them fight each other. They've gotten a few scrapes from it..."
"He makes them fight each other? But that's...!"
She smiled.
"So concerned about them when you don't know any of them?"
She laughed. He blinked, not sure whether to be angry or confused.
"Of course! I'm a friend of all pokemon! And...what's...so funny?"
"It's just, after getting so used to Orre...your personality is so different. Besides, its nice to have some company other than Wes."
N nodded.
"This Wes...how did you meet him?"
"...Cipher tried to kidnap me, and he rescued me. Those 'heartless pokemon' Ein mentioned are called Shadows. And they have this taint in their aura...I can see it, but most people can't, and that made me a threat. So they tried to kidnap me...and..."
She looked at the ground.
"He's the only reason I'm alive."
N looked shocked.
"...What...do you mean?"
"...They would have killed me."
(POV: N)
I looked at the ground. How was I supposed to respond? Wes had left a distinctly negative impression, and if they were so close, that meant she should be a bad person as well. But...she wasn't. So I...idn't know wat to say, and...so I said nothing.
(third person)
N slowly looked up.
"...I'm confused."
She blinked.
"Why?"
"You're so nice and...he's...not. But then, the two of you are so close and...to me, it doesn't make sense."
Rui smiled.
"He's...not very nice at first. But he opens up, and he's devoted to pokemon as well. Besides, he was just a grunt. You were a leader."
N scratched the back of his head.
"So, you know about that..."
She nodded. N looked around and saw the Snag Machine.
"What is that anyway?"
"The Snag Machine. It modifies pokeballs so that they work on trainers' pokemon. He used it to steal their Shadow Pokemon and purify them."
N nodded.
"If I'd had one of those..."
He shivered at the thought, Rui nodding.
"They were using those to kidnap people's pokemon straight from their trainers. Then they'd give them to Cipher, who turned them into Shadows."
"...that's horrible..."
"The pokemon you mentioned in your dream...what was its relation to you?"
"My reggion, Unova, has a pair of legendary dragons that used to be one. The black dragon Zekrom and the white dragon Reshiram. The first requiring you to have a pure heart and strong ideals to befriend, the second only showing itself to or befriending one with a clear grasp of the truth and a pure heart. I had Zekrom, and Ghetsis was going to have me use it to scare the people into obedience so could have them free their pokemon. I was stopped by Black."
"...And people say Orrean names are nonsensical."
"He...he caught on to what Ghetsis was doing and stopped him. He defeated me several times, but he was always nice to me, and his pokemon were such good friends with him...and...I was raised to believe all trainers were abusive, but he...he proved me wrong. His pokemon were his friends, he listened to my ambitions and never objected or attacked my viewpoint, and he...managed to befriend Reshiram. All that time, after all my defeats...Ghetsis revealed his true colors. I was just a pawn to him, a tool to be used to become more powerful...and until then I had believed he was telling the truth. But even after that, Black still accepted me. And then I set off for Hoen."
Rui was speechless.
"As I grew up, I never left my room. EVER. The closest thing I had to a family were my pokemon friends. Only one didn't have an abusive owner, and he was introduced to me at such a young age that neither of us spoke at all yet."
Rui continued to give him a pitying look.
"...The things those humans did to those poor pokemon...I'll never forgive them. The only human company I had were my two sisters...I firmly believed the three of us to be an exception. Now that I look back, they were tools of his as well, just like I was, to make sure I stayed pure of heart with something he had more complete control over. They were only meant to keep me from hating humans and stop at thinking they didn't belong together with pokemon."
He sat down, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I was like a brother to him...I failed to protect him, and now he's in the hands of those horrible people!"
He shook, tears flowing down his face.
"I...just want him back...he didn't do anything...it's my fault, isn't it..."
Rui stood, unsure what to say to calm him down.
N slowly stopped.
"No. I have to help him. This won't help him."
He stood.
(POV: N)
I stood up, blinking the tears out of my eyes.
I had to help stop them! All those poor pokemon they'd already turned into Shadows...I couldn't just sit down and let it continue! Or at least, that's what I thought. I didn't have any pokemon, and I knew that getting any to be my ally would pit them against Cipher...from what I'd seen, they wouldn't stand a chance. It pained me to do so on multiple levels, but I had no choice. Rui waved her hand in front of my face.
"N? You okay?"
I blinked a bit and then nodded.
"I have something...I want to ask Ws."
She shrugged.
"OOkay. Just follow me."
She turned and then lead me north, to the start of a small desert.
"He always has his pokemon train in sandstorms."
What? Unless he had catered to sandstorms for his fighting style, that would be hurting them for no reason! The more I learned about Wes's methods, the more I doubted his relation to his pokemon. I walked forward and, looking around, I eventually found him. He was watching a Blazekin fight a Suicune, a whip in his hand. That was it.
"What the-a whip!"
I ran and punched him across the face. He stepped back, his posture making it clear that he wasn't hurt in the slightest.
"Why are you whipping him?"
The Blazekin interjected, stating "I'm a girl."
"Why are you whipping her?"
"...I'm not."
"Then why do you have a whip out?"
"Signals other than my voice. Other person doesn't know what you're doing, makes you look more intimidating,...and the surprise value is worth its weight in gold."
I seethed. I hated whips, and the ides of using them instead of your voice was-well, preposterous to me.
The Blazekin shrugged.
"He's telling the truth, and you really don't want to be on his bad side."
I was thrown for a loop. Pokemon using english-I don't care if Rui had told me, it was surprising. That and I hadn't really taken the warning seriously.
"You can use pokespeak with me."
She gave me a O_o look.
"Did he just-"
Wes nodded.
"Look, just use english and save your time. They only use pokespeak if english is unavailable."
I looked down and to the side. "I...want to help with defeating Cipher, but I don't have any pokemon so-"
"So train one yourself. You made it obvious just now that you don't agree with my methods."
"I wanted...to borrow...some of yours."
I was looking at the ground. Something about his eyes...I didn't feel right looking into them.
(POV: Wes)
"I wanted...to borrow...some of yours."
Okay, now that brat was asking for it. He wanted to just..."borrow" them, and yet he's the one who's supposed to be preaching that they aren't tools. Riiight. And the way he was looking at the ground when he asked, he looked like a child. No really. If he were ten years younger I would actually be bothered by him less because his demeanor would be justified. Just...ugh. Of all the homeless people Cipher could have captured, it had to be him.
"...no."
"But I need a pokemon or I'll be dead weight!"
"You're dead weight anyway."
(POV: Rui)
I stood next to the pair, watching awkwardly. I felt stupid for a moment, realizing how obvious the question was in retrospect.
"...How about Minun?"
Wes gave me a quizzical look.
"Fine. But if you try fighting with it, kid, you'll just get your ass kicked."
He sighed.
"Oh well. Better than nothing."
"You go get it, I'm not done here.
Wes retorted, gesturing towards me with his whip.
I turned around and gestured for him to follow, which he did.
"...Do all of them speak english?"
I shook my head.
"No, actually. Only Umbreon, Espeon, Blazekin, Suicune, Entei, Raikou, and Metagross."
"Wait what? He has...all three of them?"
I nodded.
He was wide-eyed and silent.
(third person)
The two walked over to a pokemon center. Rui typed into a computer and clicked on a few icons. In a flash a pokeball appeared on a tray next to the screen. She picked it up and handed it to him.
"Wes only had me do this to shut you up."
He nodded.
"That was ridiculous, right? Expecting him to..."
She nodded.
"What is it with you and punching people?"
"I don't like the idea of people abusing pokemon, and...well, it was the first thing that crosses my mind."
Rui shrugged.
"So, those sisters of yours...what exactly did they do to 'make sure they went down the right path?'"
"...They basically filled the role of a mother...until I was fifteen. I don't know what Ghetsis did with them after that."
Rui's eyes widened.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
(POV: Rui)
Molding the lives of three people-no, three children-to acheive a single goal? Not even Ein would stoop that low. raise one maybe, but to replace him, not to...eugh.
N sent out the Minun, which bounced up and down excitedly, looking around. It stopped and looked confused. N looked at me.
"Wes got it from the mayor and its been in a computer ever since."
He looked like he might be in shock.
"How could he-?"
"As you said, better than attacking Cipher's dogs and getting stomped into the dirt."
He shook his head.
"I'm not sure about him..."
(third person)
A single oddly garbed young man about Wes's age walked about, his eyes darting as much as possible without arising suspicion.
"Hm...if that roller-coaster-haired scientist was lying I'll have to kill him. This is a waste of my ti-"
He paused, eyeing them through the window.
Perfect. Sure, there's a girl with him, but they won't be a match for myself.
He walked back and forth, watching them. They left and he tailed them to about halfway through to the desert before confronting them, a slightly sadistic smile on his face.
"Hello, prince. How nice to see that you are alive and well."
(POV: Rui)
Well, I was right screwed, wasn't I? The man-I think it was a man, was it?-Was obviously an assassin of some kind, and N's reaction to him was not reassuring.
He backed up, looking both annoyed and afraid.
"What do you want?"
He asked in what was obviously a show of bravado.
The man cracked his knuckles, looking amused.
"I came to get rid of some pests. And I think you know what I mean."
He looked confused, and I facepalmed.
"He-you are a he right?"
He nodded.
"He means he's here to kill you."
N backed up.
"Plasma's gone! Ghetsis lost all his power, so why does he-
"You're a failure. To put it simply: Looking at you reminds him of the nearly two decade-long time period he spent preparing you for a single loss. He needs to get rid of you before attempting his new plan."
"What plan? Plasma's dead, as N says, and they've been exposed-"
"You'd be amazed what some people do. They know they're just pawns but fight regardless."
I stepped forward. N was afraid of him, which for some reason angered me. "Leave him out of this!"
He smirked.
"Protective of the boy already? I never will understand why people react to him like that."
I suppose he was right, which just ticked me off more.
"Just shut up and leave."
"I can't. I'm a professional."
He sent out...what can only be described as some kind of Power Rangers reject villian.
"...what?"
"Yeah, we get that a lot. However, those blades are effective, so we make do. Now kill the girl."
It walked towards me, and I backed up. In a flash, a glowing reg light appeared behind it.
"What the hell?"
"What the hell?"
"What the-"
N was cut off by Collinpumping it full of enough heat to knock it out. She could have destroyed it but I guess with N there "Threatening a friend of Wes like that? Stupid move."
"What the-"
Collin turned around.
"Where I came from or that I speak english?"
The man was glaring.
"Where did you come from?"
"He came from the same direction I did."
Wes stated, walking slowly towards him from the North. I suddenly felt hopeful.
"Rui's attached herself to that kid, and as such I cannot allow him to die."
He backed up, throwing down a smoke bomb and escaping.
Wes ran to me, checking to make sure I wasn't hurt.
"I was worried for a second there..."
N coughed and then looked in the direction he'd run.
"I've never seen one of them without the other two..."
Wes paused and stood the rest of the way up.
"...Then all three of them will be here shortly. Who was that?"
N looked down.
"I don't know his name, but he's a part of a trio of ninjas that my old man's had working for him for a while now. They're the ones that chose and delivered my pokemon...but unlike me, they are aware of what they're doing, they've probably known since the start. I uess he wants me dead."
Wes laughed. N gave him an angry look.
"What's so funny! I...don't want...to die alone."
"That's the thing, kid. If Cipher hadn't captured you, I wouldn't have saved you and they'd actually be successful in killing you."
N was just confused.
"Anyway, we should be on the lookout. And stay away from ceilings. Why..."
"Are they trying to kill me?"
"No, why is it always ninjas?"
I was exasperated now. N was not a threat, and I couldn't see why anyone would need to kill him. I guessed I'd have to pry it from them.
Wes cut my train of thought off.
"I guess I'll have to interogate one of them when they come back. For now, we should prepare and see if Natt knows what's going on."
N blinked.
"Wait...who's Natt?"
"One of the towns we freed was The Under. A group of the kids there are skilled with computers. The best of them is Natt. If anyone can find out what Cipher's up too, it's him."
Wes was fiddling with the settings on the snag machine, as he often did when bored.
N looked down.
"If only I hadn't released my pokemon..."
Wes was angry for a split second.
"What?"
N asked, confused. I sighed.
"Orre, where we come from, is too desolate for pokemon to survive independently. So releasing a pokemon kills it."
He nodded for a second, looking glum.
"To think that once they served me, but now they're trying to kill me."
Wes shrugged.
"That's what happens."
Ein had his Alakazam teleport him to a hidden base.
"Master Ein!"
Cried a young girl, smiling at him. Venus walked in, bowing to him.
"How has the project gone recently?"
She stood back up, looking annoyed.
"Dakim and I have been making...little progress. However I beleive we've almost found it."
Ein nodded, lost in thought.
"I'm going to leave on one of my own. There's another group that has some information I could use."
"So you're going to become Dr. E again?"
Ein stopped and turned around.
"Yes. Unfortunately, those two pests are already onto us."
Venus shrugged.
"I suppose it can't be helped. We'll have to dispose of them properly this time."
Lovrina walked over to Ein, smiling.
"The lastest batch is done! Got any work for me?"
Ein nodded.
"This one."
He handed the pokeball containing N's Zoroark's pokeball to her.
"Thaaank you!"
She walked away to find her machine.
"...I swear, even I'm disturbed by that girl."
Venus shrugged.
"Makes for better PR than creepy monotone."
"I keep forgetting that the public doesn't think."
Wes faced north again.
"We need to either shake them or fight. I'd like to fight, but protecting three people while fighting three is a lot more difficult than it sounds..."
Rui scratched the back of her head.
"...At least they don't have Shadows."
Wes sighed.
"You never know..."
Ein walked away, thinking to himself.
Getting close to Ghetsis won't be difficult, after all he did buy my genetically enhanced Hydreigon. The other test subjects have begun to weaken, and perhaps I could convince him to supply me with the funds and resources to create one that won't weaken over time. The old fool is in a power hungry state, after all, grasping at straws and trying with his entire being to acheive what he so pathetically failed to gain. As a result, he will be much more... susceptible. The idea of using his "son" as a bargaining chip for ability to control Zekrom, and as a result, to pose a threat won't work, however I hardly need it. Wes...retribution will come. Because, lad, I am not Ghetsis. I am not an old man with numbered days. I have plenty of time and I plan fully on using it.
...several minutes later...
Ghetsis walked forward, having received reports from his employed quartet. A grunt wearing Neo Plasma's pirate-esque uniform ran in, looking perturbed.
"Milord, a man by the name of 'Dr. E' has requested an audience with you immediately!"
What! How could an outsider have found this secluded place! o matter, I'll just kill hi-wait a minute...where have I heard that...?
After several minutes of walking, he was in front of his hiding place's entrance, a massive but worn set of double doors.
"It's been a long time since I last conducted buisness with you, Ghetsis."
Ghetsis blinked with his one real eye, surprised.
"So how did my Hydreigon assist you in your plans?"
"It was defeated. By a child."
Ghetsis was seething at the doctor, almost baring his teeth.
"I fail to see how that could happen; no member of its species could possibly compete with it. It's EVs and IVs are both all maxed, and it evolved ten levels early."
Ghetsis gave him a o_O look.
"My apologies for using technical talk. I meant that it was far, FAR, more powerful than should have been possible for it at that point in time."
"It's already started getting weaker. Explain that."
"All pokemon weaken as they age, and since that one is a genetic multi-splice, the process takes place much faster. That is the...flaw that I mentioned when we discussed buisness before."
Ghetsis eyed him.
"You have a lot of nere, coming here."
Au contraire, my one-eyed friend. I came to see if you could provide the funds and recources to further my research, which I would then provide you with free of charge."
Ghetsis eyed him.
"...What makes think I'd accept this...offer?"
"...As I've said, all proceeds go directly to you. I'm merely in it for the knowledge." Ghetsis thought about it.
"Okay. You're hired. But I don't have time for mistakes."
"Ghetsis, you should know by now...I do not disappoint."
N looked around.
"...we should go to Unova."
"What!"
"Who knows where they took my friend...and if I got Zekrom back, I'd be able to fight them on equal ground."
Wes frowned.
"...you had better know what you're doing, kid."
Rui smiled.
"Cheer up! Besides, we need the firepower and you know it."
He nodded.
"I suppose you're right. Well, lead the way to a port."
N shook his head.
"What do you mean? I don't know where any of them are!"
Wes facepalmed.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
"Anyway, come on."
He sent out Skamary, Stantler, and Suicune.
Wes and Rui mounted Stantler and Suicune respectively.
"I guess I'm with you then..."
N muttered in pokespeak before getting on Skamary.
They all seet off for Lilycove.
After arriving in the city, Wes returned his Pokemon. Then he set off to find a ship to take, leaving N and Rui.
N watched him leave, standing close to Rui.
"...What do you think of him?"
Rui gave him a confused look.
"What... do you mean?"
"...As a friend or...?"
Rui backed back, blushing.
"Wait...oh, I get it."
"What?"
"Our relationship is strictly professional."
He blinked.
"Oh. That's not what it looked like to me..."
Rui was slightly annoyed now.
Egh. I'm not even sure he realizes what he's saying.
"So, how long has it been since you left Plasma?"
"About a month. And apparently Ghetsis already started scheming again..."
"It's okay. I'm sure that either Cipher or Wes'll put an end to it before it gets too far. And don't blame yourself. You couldn't have known what he was doing."
He smiled slightly.
"Thanks, I...I needed that."
Rui blushed again and turned around.
Seth was standing with Umbreon on his shoulders, annoyed.
"I don't get it. What does she see in him? He's clueless, dependent, weak, and he assumes everyone is going to try and help him."
Umbreon smirked.
"Well, you want to know? Here's what you don't notice: He's kind, his heart's in the right place, he's loyal, his cluelessness is amusing to her, he's younger than you-"
"What the-? What gave you the idea that-"
"And he's got long hair. And it's green."
"What does hair have to do with this?"
"Wes. We're a part of Japanese pop culture. Hair has EVERYTHING to do with this."
Wes had no idea what Umbreon was talking about, and Umbreon really didn't either. "What did I just say...?"
"This conversation happened never."
"Agreed. So do you have the tickets yet?"
"No. I just came here to vent that I'm stuck with that moron now."
"Well we should start doing that."
"Okay, let's see...S.S. Aqua? Sure."
He walked up to a clerk.
"I'll have three tickets for this ship."
"That will be 36,000 poke."
"I'll be broke if we keep taking these..."
Wes muttered, making payment via his PDA's built in credit...thing. Let's just say his PDA works like a credit card. Yes. So with 36 fewer thousand poke in his account, he walked towards Rui and N to inform them that their ship would be leaving soon.
Wes saw the two turn to look at him.
"I got three tickets for Unova. The boat leaves soon, so follow me."
He lead them to the boat, handing them their tickets.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
N didn't respond, as he was still uncomfortable with Wes.
The three waited for several minutes before the boat arrived. They got two rooms: Wes and Rui in one and N in another.
Wes sighed.
"I need to get some sleep..."
He lied down in his bed and fell sleep. N sat in his room, mulling over what had happened in his head. He sent out Plusle.
"Plus!" (Hi!)
"Hello. What's your name?"
He asked, petting it. It looked confused.
"Pl-plu...?" (But you're...?)
"Yes. I speak pokespeak. Surprised?"
"P...lue..."(Y...yes...)
"I get that a lot."
He stopped petting it and looked up.
"Pluesu?" (What did you want me for?)
"What do you mean?"
"Plusue plue susu. Pluslsus." (You sent me out, you must need something. What is it?)
"...You shouldn't be stuck in that thing all the time."
"Sus?" (What?)
(Wes's dream, take 1)
A young boy was standing in a snow-covered field, looking down. He bent over to pick up something tattered and brown, then turned to walk away, teary eyed. He continued to walk, with no end of the field in sight. Snow fell lightly around him, but he remained fixated on what was in his arms. His gaze was solid yet empty, as if he had fallen asleep with his eyes open. His hands started tightening around it as he continued to walk.
(third person)
Wes continued to sleep, but his face was contorted as though he were in pain. Rui knew better than to wake him, but since doing so was tempting, she went to the door leading to N's room and knocked. N oopened the door.
"You don't have to knock, you can just walk in, I don't mind."
He said to her with a smile. She smiled back.
"...I see you introduced yourself to Plusle."
"Yeah...it..."
"Listen. We keep pokemon in pokeballs for their own good, and we actually mean that. We've been meaning to return it to its owner, but Wes...kept forgetting it existed."
N's face was pained for a second.
"I'm so worried...about my friend. The thought of him, stuck in a pokeball and unable to escape from those horrible people, only being released so he can fight..."
"It's okay. We'll get him back. I mean it."
N looked at the ground.
"Thanks. I don't know if I've said it, but you remind me of them. My two older sisters."
She blinked.
He looked up.
Plusle jumped up and down.
"Plupluplu!" (Hey, I'm hungry!)
N looked at it.
"You guys...do feed it regularly, right?"
Rui was about to punch him but stopped.
Calm down...got to remeber what he was raised to believe.
"...Why is your hand clenched?"
"No reason. He's hungry?"
N nodded.
"Then let's get him some food."
Rui turned around and walked off, N following.
"Er, Rui, I should probably tell you..."
"Yeah?"
"That dream...I've had others like it, and they always came true. I'm afraid of what's going to happen..."
"Well maybe some of Wes's crazy dreams rubbed into yours. Half of his involve me dying, and most of the other half are so totally random that they couldn't possibly come true."
N blinked, looking at her with his head tilted.
"I hope so..."
"Plusueplusue!" (Cheer up, cheer up!)
He laughed.
"Thanks, I needed that."
"Pluselle, plu suesus?" (Then could you, thank me with food?)
N smiled.
"Okay, don't worry."
They walked into the kitchen and ordered some pokemon food.
A chef handed a bowl of it to Rui. She set it down and watched as Plusle wolfed it down.
"Ususususususus!" (nomnomnomnomnomnom!)
N smiled at it.
"So, N, what do you want...to do? We got time."
N blinked.
"Huh?"
She was blushing now.
You know what? I kind of like him...
"You know, we gotta do something to pass time until the ship docks."
"Could you take this discussion elsewhere? Seriously, teens these days..."
She realized she was in front of the counter.
"Oh, I'm sorry..."
She bowed before walking off. N was carrying Plusle in his arms. Plusle was confused.
"...Do you have any parents?"
If any other guy asked me that I'd think they were trying to...
"No...my parents disappeared a while back so I went to live with my grandparents, and...they...they've both died of old age."
And I would NOT have said that. He nodded.
"...I never knew my mom. And Ghetsis was the closest thing I had to family."
"What about your sisters?"
"...I never really saw them as family. I don't even remember their names."
"...What do think of Ghetsis?"
He froze and his hair fell over his eyes.
Ooohhh crap, I shouldn't have set that.
(POV: N)
"...What do think of Ghetsis?"
I stopped and looked down. My hair fell over my eyes as it tended to when I did so. What...what did I think of him? My whole life, he had always made sure I got what I wanted...no, that was fake. The moment he put me in that room he had doomed me to being a puppet. But...he kept me around even as Black kept defeating me, which is against the things he did. But then he put me in charge of Plasma, and he...he's the only reason I met either of them...
"Hey N! You okay?"
I looked up at her, eyes full of tears. I didn't know what to say, and...suddenly she hugged me.
"Calm down. He can't hurt you. Wes'll make sure of that."
My eyes widened for a bit and I hugged her back, smiling. I guess people like Black weren't as rare as I thought. People...I could call friends.
