A/N Hi. :3

Yep. I updated again. Why? Because I've finally hit the climax of the story.

And because I have a bunch of N fangirls at my throat because I didn't include him in the last few chapters. :D

Thank you again to all of my regs who still continue to review my story! I cOuld tell you guys how awesome you really are for every single chapter and I still wouldn't be able to show how much I appreciate you. You're the reason this story is starting to flourish! :D

Chapter Four: The First Gym

Cilan pushed open the door of what we were told was the Gym and escorted us all inside. The inside of the Gym was exactly as extravagant as the outside, full of mahogany tables and lavish furnishings.

"This...is a Gym? It looks more like a restaurant." Cheren remarked, adjusting his glasses as he took in the room.

"It is! We can't battle all the time you know!"

He led us to a table and we all took our seats as two other boys dressed as waiters came into the room.

"Cilan, are these new challengers?" a boy with blue hair asked.

"They sure are Cress. Now everyone," he turned his attention back to us.

"Before we begin, we need to know what your starter Pokemon is."

Bianca, Black and Cheren all told Cilan in turn, and when his gaze turned to me, and I coughed slightly.

"I- uh, I don't have a Pokemon." I told him sheepishly.

"Oh, that's not a problem! The Gym can always rent you one!"

Thankfully, Cheren stepped in to my rescue.

"Thank you for the offer Cilan, but White actually has a really bad phobia of Pokemon."

"I understand." he said, though it was evident on his face that he didn't. Still though, he didn't argue against it, and instead moved on to explain the process of the Gym to the others. I payed them no mind, instead looking out of one of the many windows in the room, lost in thought.

"Alright, so how about we all go at one time?" I heard Bianca ask after a few minutes.

"Sure thing. Bianca, I'll be going against you. Black, you'll be against Cress. Cheren, you're up against Chili."

"We'll be back soon, White. Don't go anywhere!" Black said as the group went into a separate room.

I sighed and fingered the spine of my journal and flicked it open to Kyurem's page. My eyes instantly went to the bold words and I involuntarily traced over the letters with a finger, only to yelp and pull my finger away. The ink that made those letters was freezing cold!

The door to the Gym opened and a familiar green-haired figure entered the building, drawing my attention away from the mysterious text.

"Miss White! A surprise seeing you here!"

Oh Arceus no.

"Uh, hi N."

N came over to my table and took a seat across from me, and I noticed there was a Pidove perched on his shoulder, causing me to eye it nervously. I quickly closed the notebook and slipped it in my pocket before he could notice it.

"Bonjour mademoiselle! I remember you from the Route! I do apologize for that, I didn't know that my kind startled you."

I blinked, thoroughly surprised by the fact that the Pidove knew about my phobia (and that it had a French accent). I remembered this little bird from the Route and I felt my face flush slightly.

"I-It's fine."

N smiled at this, but after a few seconds the grin turned more solemn and his brow furrowed in thought.

"Miss White, This Pidove told me that you threw away a Repel that your brother gave you. Why? A person with your type of phobia would want to use it, wouldn't they?"

I shook my head in surprise at this. Why would he care? But still, I decided I should just answer him.

"Well, believe it or not, I used to work in the field around Pokemon, before I developed my phobia of them. I know what Repels do, they ward off any Pokemon around the person who used it. That includes nesting Pokemon, Pokemon who mean no harm to the user of the Repel. I'm not going to drive Pokemon out of their homes just for my own selfish purposes."

"Miss White, I couldn't have said it better myself. This is how you differ from your friends, even when you have this mysterious fear of Pokemon, you still have a mind about their feelings and beliefs. So let me ask you this, as I didn't get a chance to earlier, what are your thoughts on Team Plasma?"

What?

Then I remembered, the day before, at Team Plasma's protest. N had called out in agreement to the group...was he somehow a part of it?

"Team Plasma? Well, I suppose I agree with them. During my field work, I always came across a Trainer who mistreated their Pokemon, or were too obsessed with making them stronger, or some who just collected them like baseball cards."

N's eyes brightened, and it looked like he was going to say something, but I held up a finger, causing him to cock his head curiously.

"Though I've seen these things, I also disagree with Team Plasma. I've seen just as many Trainers who cared and loved their Pokemon then I've seen mistreat them, if not more. My-"

I winced as my mouth got ahead of my brain, but I decided to keep going.

"My dad's Pokemon had a bond to him that I've never seen before. They would have died for him, and they did. If they were truly unhappy with my father, they would have let him die. Instead, they lay down their lives in an attempt to save his- and mine."

N didn't say anything, he just stared into space, lost in thought. The Pidove on his shoulder didn't speak either.

After a few moments, he started laughing.

"I've never heard words so full of truth and ideal at once! Miss White, I'm impressed."

I smiled half-heartedly at his words, which both filled me with relief and horror. Those two words stood out like poppies on snow. Truth and ideal.

"N, if you believe in the same things that Team Plasma does, why are you battling?"

He leaned back in his seat, folding his hands in his lap.

"I'm trying to find the ideals in battling, trying to make my voice heard in the only way Trainers can hear."

Before I could ask any further questions, my companions came out from the back room, all wearing triumphant smiles and holding a shimmering piece of metal. The trio of Leaders wasn't far behind, each looking defeated, but all wearing grins.

"Your friends all fought well, their Pokemon obviously share a strong bond with them." Chili said.

Black caught sight of N and narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you talking to my sister?"

The gym leaders finally took notice of N and something flickered across their eyes. Fear? Surprise? Nervousness? I couldn't tell, but it certainly caught my attention.

"Oh, Hello Black. I was just trying to be friendly while I waited for an opening." N told my brother casually.

Black gave him a suspicious look, but didn't say a word.

Bianca and Cheren shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, and I felt just as out-of-place. The tension, however, was broken by the creak of the door swaying open on its hinges.

And who else would step through it, but Grey.

A/N DUN DUN DUH! Cliffhanger. :3

I have this bad feeling that I spelled people's names wrong, but oh well. /shrugs

Are you happy fangirls? ARE YOU HAPPY?!

Alrighty, I have some thing to say real quick.

My goal is for this chapter to lead me to getting 25 reviews or more. Now I'm not trying to say 'review or there'll be nochew chapter' it's just a goal. So if you guys would spread this story around, send a link to your friends, just something, that would help a lot. owo

Oh, and one more thing, should I change the title of the story? Send me your thoughts/ideas! :D

Peace out!

-Amber Icefire-