Bianca's Oshawott's name took me a while to make up. I actually wanted to make it seem smart and all, but not too smart because... well, it's Bianca xD Cheren's gotta be the man. Supposedly.
"Ah, Touko! Cheren! Bianca! There you are! Traveling with your Pokemon is truly one of the joys of being a Trainer! Please follow me. I'l like to show you the most important place for a Trainer to know!" She said, and the trio followed the professor as they entered the grand Center. "This is a Pokemon Center! Don't you feel better as soon as you step through the door? OK, let's start your tour!" And she guided them to the largest desk in the front of the room.
"Ooh, wait for me!" Bianca cried out, as she struggled to keep up with the group.
"A Pokemon Center is a truly incredible place!" Professor Juniper continued. "Do you know why? Because your Pokemon can be healed! And, what's more, it's absolutely free! A Pokemon Center is a Trainer's best friend! Here, Touko, give it a try." She said. Touko looked in between the professor, her two friends, and the smiling lady at the counter before placing Rior on the desk.
"Hello and welcome to the Pokemon Center! We restore your tired Pokemon to full health. Would you like to rest your Pokemon?" The nurse asked, and Touko nodded. "Please recall your Pokemon into his Poke Ball." The nurse told her, and Touko did as she was told. The nurse took the Poke Ball and placed it into a large machine. Bianca and Cheren did the same thing with their two Poke Balls, and soon, the three teenagers looked in wonder at how the machine worked.
The nurse put the five Poke Balls on the machine, and then turned it on. The machine glowed for a few minutes. "Your Pokemon have not been terribly injured, so the healing process is very quick. You may continue your tour and come back for your Pokemon right in a few minutes." She said, and the trio nodded in confirmation.
"OK. Now that your Pokemon are resting, I'll show you how to use the PC at a Pokemon Center." The teenagers followed her as she approached a modern PC by the desk. "This is the PC. It's free for any Trainer to use. You can store Pokemon in your PC Boxes or select Pokemon stored in your PC Boxes to take along with you. In addition, if you catch a new Pokemon wile you have six Pokemon traveling with you, the Pokemon you just caught is sent automatically to the PC network! Surprising, isn't it? Amazing, even. Here's something else that's cool. If you select my PC, I'll evaluate the progress you've made on your Pokedex!" She explained, all the while showing which parts of the PC she meant on the screen.
"Professor... It says "Someone's PC" on the screen. Who is 'Someone'?" Bianca asked curiously. The professor chuckled.
"Very good, Bianca. That's a great observation! Good question, and I'd like to say more, but for now, just ignore that and go ahead and use the PC. 'Someone' is the person who made the Pokemon Storage System... Someone I'm sure you'll meet someday! OK, let's move on!" The professor said happily. Touko and Cheren looked at each other, and Touko couldn't help but laugh at the bored expression on Cheren's face. The professor led them to a section of the Center they had passed by earlier, where there were two men behind a blue counter. Touko noticed that the men were wearing the same uniform as the woman she had seen earlier.
"Hey, Cheren. I met a woman earlier who wore the same uniform. She gave me a Potion." Touko whispered to Cheren, who was walking beside her. Cheren nodded.
"Yeah, Bianca and I met her too. She also gave us sample Potions." He whispered back. Touko grinned, but then suddenly realised that Cheren had said 'Bianca and I' and began to feel angry once again.
"Now, this is the Poke Mart. This is the place to buy useful items and sell the ones you don't need anymore! That gentleman over there will help you with a smile!" She pointed towards the counter before stepping back from the group. "So, let's wrap this up. I've given you the basics of being a Trainer! I'm going to head back to Nuvema Town. One final thing... When you get to Striaton City, go and meet an inventor named Fennel. She's a friend of mine from long ago, and I'm sure she'll help you on your way! Best of luck! I hope that your journeys prove to be the adventure of a lifetime!" And with one final wave of goodbye, the electronic doors opened and she walked out of sight.
"Ooh! What should I buy? Potions and Poke Balls are definitely important. Ummm... thinking..." she mumbled on. Cheren sighed.
"I'm going to go get my Pokemon and then head out. I want to get to Striaton quickly." He said, and walked back to the pink counter. Touko and Bianca followed behind.
The nurse smiled, and gave each one of the trainers their Pokemon back. The trio called out their primary Pokemon, and Touko smiled happily to see that Rior's strength was restored. Bianca hugged her Aqueous and then walked towards the mart again.
"So Cheren... I'll see you around?" Touko said sadly. Cheren was rather oblivious, and didn't notice the sadness in the girl's tone and nodded.
"Yes. We'll see each other soon. 'Bye Touko. 'Bye Bianca!" He waved goodbye to the two girls before heading out the same way as the professor had just minutes ago. Bianca and Touko made their way to the mart, and Touko wondered what she'd get.
"How much money do you have with you Touko?" Bianca asked her friend.
"About 4000. I can easily ask mum for more, but I'm fine I suppose so far. Plus, if I get into battling Leaders and stuff... yeah..." she said, and Touko bought nine Potions and paid 2700. As Bianca went to the counter to get what she wanted, Touko told her goodbye.
"Since we're all heading our own ways, anyway, then I guess I'll get going. I'll look around town for a bit too, so if you need me, just give me a call, OK?" She told Bianca, and Bianca happily nodded. Touko walked out of the Center sadly, as she had hoped that Bianca would suggest that they travel together.
When she walked out, she turned her head to hear two men talking.
"Sounds like something's going on in the plaza!" One of the men said.
"Well, let's have a little look-see." The other man said, and they walked towards the western side of town. Intrigued, Touko decided to follow them and saw a grand crowd surrounding what seemed to be a little green plaza. In between the crowd she found Cheren, and Cheren spotted her as well and waved.
"Touko, come here a sec." He said, and then pointed towards the people on the plaza. Touko watched as a group of people wearing medieval suits stood in a straight line behind a green-haired man. Next to them were two banners with the symbols 'PS'. The man in front frightened Touko slightly. He was a scary man, and when he began to talk, his words scared her even more.
"My name is Ghetsis. I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokemon liberation." He said, and waited for a few minutes as Touko heard the crowd whispering in confusion. Cheren and Touko stared at each other before looking back at the man again. "I'm sure most of you believe that we humans and Pokemon are partners that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However... Is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans... only assume that this is the truth?" The whispering in the crowd was getting louder, and Touko held on to Rior tightly as if protecting him.
The man walked back and forth along the plaza, irritably convincing with his words. "Pokemon are subject to the selfish commands of Trainers... They get pushed around when they are our 'partners' at work... Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I'm saying?" He asked the crowd, and once again, the whispering got louder. Cheren frowned.
"That is not true at all." He simply said to Touko. But as Touko looked from her best friend to Ghetsis, she couldn't help but feel a little insecure about the matter the man was discussing.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokemon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans have much to learn. Tell me, what is our responsibility towards these wonderful beings called Pokemon?" He asked the crowd again. Touko heard the people around her whispering and shuddered when one wondered whether it could be liberation. She looked around the ground, as if hoping there was someone who would disagree, but merely saw insecure faces. She thought she saw a flash of green, but when she looked again, the green was gone.
"That's right! We must liberate the Pokemon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokemon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokemon... and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention." And then the medieval group made a formation that surrounded the green-haired man and the group left. Everyone was left staring at each other and speaking.
"About that speech... What do you think we should do?" An old man asked.
"Liberate Pokemon? That's not even possible!" A younger man protested.
Soon the crowd that was gathered around the plaza took their own ways. Cheren and Touko were left staring at each other and their Pokemon.
"Touko, don't tell me you're actually considering that man's words." Cheren told Touko in disbelief. Touko shook her head, but continued to look at Rior, who was still in her arms. She put Rior down and then bent down to speak to him.
"Say Rior, do you agree with what that man said? Am I using you for battles? Did I hurt you when I told you to battle Cheren, Bianca, and those wild Pokemon?" She asked Rior. But Rior simply tilted his head and said nothing that his trainer could possibly understand. Touko sighed.
"Your Pokemon... Just now, it was saying..." Touko immediately took hold of Rior and stood up, both her and Cheren looking at a tall boy in front of them. The boy must have been older than them, he had tea-green hair and wore accessories that Touko had never seen another person wear before. She didn't say anything, but Cheren took a step forward.
"Slow down. You talk too fast." He told the boy. "And what's this about Pokemon... talking? That's an odd thing to say." Cheren said. But the boy's gaze was fixiated on Rior.
"Yes, they're talking." He said, his gaze still on the Grass-type Pokemon. "Oh." He looked up for the first time, Touko seeing his thoughtful blue-grey eyes. "Then, you two can't hear it, either... How sad." He said, and Touko had an impression that the boy really thought that it was a sad thing. "My name is N." He introduced himself.
"My name is Cheren, and this is Touko." Cheren answered back. "We were asked to complete the Pokedex, and we just left on our journey." He explained. Then he smiled in confidence and said, "My main goal is to become the Champion, though." N, however, seemed unaffected by Cheren's burst of confidence. He continuted to stare at Rior, and Touko held on to her Pokemon tightly, as if afraid that the young man would grab him and run. Suddenly, N stopped staring at Rior and shifted his gaze to Cheren, and now N's face seemed to be filled with disgust.
"The Pokedex, eh? So... You're going to confine many, many Pokemon in Poke Balls for that, then. I'm a Trainer, too, but I can't help wondering... Are Pokemon really happy that way?" He told Cheren. Cheren felt uncomfortable under the teen's gaze and took a step back. N's gaze, however, turned back to Rior, and as he stared at the Pokemon, he took a step closer to Touko and stared at her in the eyes. Touko, surprised, took a step back, afraid of the sudden close distance between them.
"Well, Touko, is it? Let me hear your Pokemon' voice again!" In seconds, N called out a Purrloin and Touko turned towards Cheren in despair. Cheren however, was taking steps back from the pair and simply gave her a sympathetic smile.
"He challenged you to a battle, you must accept." Cheren simply told her. Touko hesitated, but when she looked at Rior and saw the fierce determination in his eyes, she nodded. She took steps back from the tall teenager, and soon the two were ready to face off.
"Purrloin, Scratch." N commanded smoothly. The Purrloin looked at Rior and quickly ran to him, scratching his body at the front. A red line began to appear on his stomach, and Touko began to worry.
"Rior, use Leer!" Touko ordered, and Rior stood up straight and leered at the Purrloin. Purrloin, however, seemed unaffected. It appeared to Touko as if both Pokemon and Trainer seemed to share the same character traits, especially when it came to confidence.
"Scratch." N ordered once again, and the Purrloin attacked the Snivy once more, hitting him this time on his back. Rior gave a low cry of pain, and Touko flinched. She ordered Rior to use Leer again, and he fixed his stature and leered at the Purrloin with all his might.
N ordered Purrloin to use Scratch again, and it was easy to see the red lines that had formed on Rior's body from the Pokemon's sharp claws. Rior seemed to get weaker, but Touko ordered him to use Leer again, hoping that it would weaken Purrloin's defence enough. And although he was getting tired, Rior leered at Purrloin, and this time, the Purrloin took a step back, surprised by the Pokemon's sudden burst of confidence. Even N seemed to be surprised, and when Touko looked at him, his confident stature seemed to be replaced by that of an excited kid.
"More! Let me hear the voice of your Pokemon!" He cried in excitement. Touko stared at him weirdly, before ordering Rior to use Leer once again. "Use Scratch!" N ordered, and the Purrloin scratched Rior on the back again, and Rior gave a louder cry of pain. When Purrloin got back to his trainer's side, Touko noticed a grin forming on his tired face. She turned towards Cheren, as if asking him to help. But Cheren was staring intently at the battle.
"You have to attack physically Touko." He told her. Touko looked back at Rior who seemed to pant heavier than Purrloin. She was afraid that if she ordered Rior to use Tackle, then it would use up the rest of his energy. Instead, she ran to Rior's side and sprayed a Potion to him, immediately seeing the red lines disappearing. This, however, did not seem to have affected N. He was back to his original character, full of confidence and all trace of excitement gone, and ordered Purrloin to use Scratch once again.
Touko could see the Purrloin ready to pounce on both her and Rior, ready to scratch them both. But something flashed before Rior's eyes, and he jumped in front of his trainer and attacked the ready-to-pounce Purrloin with a Vine Whip. This surprised both the Pokemon and the trainers. The Purrloin fell back to his trainer's side and N turned his eyes on Rior. Touko watched, still down on her knees, as Rior glared at N menacingly before he turned away.
"I never expected to hear Pokemon say such things..." He muttered to himself. He bent down to pick up the unconscious Purrloin and began to walk away. Cheren rushed to his friend's side and helped her up as Rior walked back to his trainer. N turned his head slightly and spoke in a silent tone, 'As long as Pokemon are confined in Poke Balls... Pokemon will never become perfect beings. I have to change the world for Pokemon, because they're my friends." Cheren and Touko watched as his retreating figure disappeared in the crowd.
"Huh... Strange guy." Cheren muttered to himself. "But I'm not going to worry about it. Trainers and Pokemon help each other out!" He exclaimed. "Listen, I'm going on ahead. I want to battle the Gym Leader in the next town - Striaton City. Aim to battle Gym Leader after Gym Leader. The best way for a Trainer to become stronger is to challenge the Gym Leaders in each area." Cheren advised her. He turned towards Touko and smiled. "What are you going to do now Touko?" He asked. Touko shrugged.
"I might as well stay overnight. I'm not in a hurry." She said jokingly, and Cheren laughed. He told her goodbye and was about to leave when she called his name. He tilted his head. "Take care of yourself." Touko told him and Cheren nodded.
Touko stood at the plaza until Cheren was out of sight. Once he was gone, she looked up at the sky to see that it was almost nightfall, and decided to head towards the Pokemon Center to get a room for the night.
As she walked around the town, she began to think of the things N had told her and Cheren. Of course, they couldn't possibly be true. Pokemon couldn't possibly despise being with trainers... could they?
Just a side note. I really do like the Game version of N. He's pretty awesome. Can't say much (yet) about the manga version though...