7. Plasma and Problems

"HILDA! You get away from here, N!" Hilbert yelled, running towards the green haired young man who had Hilda in his arms. "Let go of her!" Before he was even five metres away from the man, he had dragged Hilda onto the Ferris Wheel, leaving Hilbert surrounded by Team Plasma Grunts. He drew out a Pokéball, releasing his Pignite, and started to battle their oncoming Pokémon.

Meanwhile, the Ferris Wheel had begun to move, N let Hilda go, sitting himself down as if nothing had happened.

"What the hell did you do that for?! And why are we up here?!" shouted, gesturing out the window. N stayed silent for a moment.

"I love Ferris Wheels. The circular motion… The mechanics… They're like collections of elegant formulas."

"That didn't really answer my question…" Hilda sighed.

"I must tell you… I am the king of Team Plasma. Ghetsis asked me to work with him to save Pokémon," he gazed out the window. "I wonder how many Pokémon exist in this world…" Hilda gasped, getting as far away from N as possible.

"How could you?! I trusted you, N… and then you tell me this? You're the King of Team Plasma?! You probably have a sceptre and a crown and…." she laughed bitterly.

"Why yes. I do." Hilda shook her head in disgust. The Ferris Wheel stopped at the ground, and Hilda clambered out quickly. She tried to run, but was stopped by a warm hand on her shoulder. Hilbert had defeated the Grunts, and Pignite was standing, wiped out. The two grunts looked at N, sheepishly.

"There's no problem. You're part of the people we brought in to help us save the Pokémon. So, you're under my protection, as well. Go, quickly, and let my battle cover your retreat.," he addressed the Grunts, they nodded, and scampered off. "...Now then, Hilda, do you follow my logic?" The brunette shook N's words off, and told Hilbert to chase after the grunts. He nodded, returning his prized Pignite, and sprinting after the two escapees.

"Please be okay…" she whispered. She looked at the ground for a second, before standing tall, fixing her ponytail and turning back to N. "Yes, I follow your logic. But…" N cut her off.

"If true, your words please me. Ah. Then... The future I envision... Perhaps I can't beat you here and now, but I'll battle you to buy time for these members of Team Plasma to get away!" Hilda nodded in understanding, before throwing Dewott's Pokéball to counter N's Sandile.

"Let's go! Finish this right now with Razor Shell!" Dewott jumped at Sandile with amazing speed, and as soon as the Water Type move hit Sandile, it fainted.

"Well done, my friend." N held up the Pokéball, returning Sandile and sending out a Darumaka. Hilda commanded Dewott to use Water Pulse, and Darumaka was easily knocked out too. N sent out his Scraggy.

"This one'll be a bit harder, Dewott. So use, Water Pulse again!"

"Dodge that, and use Headbutt!... Hilda, your Pokémon look happy…" Dewott was hit by Scraggy's head, and jumped back, firing another Water Pulse, this one knocking Scraggy out. N returned it, sending out a Sigilyph.

"What sort of Pokémon is that?" Hilda said, whipping her Pokédex and scanning it.

"Sigilyph, the Avianoid Pokémon. The guardians of an ancient city, they use their psychic power to attack enemies that invade their territory."

"Hmm…. A psychic type. Dewott, Razor Shell!" Hilda commanded. The blue otter dashed towards Sigilyph, but the alien like Pokémon dodged the attack, firing a Psybeam attack. Dewott took the brunt of the attack, but managed to get back, and under it's trainer's command used Water Pulse. Sigilyph was hit, and flew back, before regaining its balance.

"Sigilyph, use Air Cutter! Right at it's feet…" The Avianoid Pokémon sent a breeze towards Dewott, lifting it up and damaging it at the same time. By the time Dewott had landed on the ground, it was knocked out cold.

"Okay Dewott, return. You battled well," Hilda fished around in her bag for another Pokéball. "Emolga, your time to shine! Thunderbolt!" The Flying Squirrel flew around Sigilyph, confusing it, before launching a deadly Thunderbolt, knocking the three eyed Pokemon out. It collapsed, not airborne any more, and N returned it to the Pokéball.

"Well done, my friend. You're quite strong. But I have a future that I must change. And, for that future... I'll defeat the Champion and become unbeatable, unlike any other! I'll make all Trainers free their Pokémon! Just try and stop me! If you want to be together with Pokémon, your only hope is to collect the Badges from each area and head for the Pokémon League! Try and stop me there, if you dare! If your conviction is not strong enough, you will never be able to defeat me." He looked at Hilda, fire burning in is eyes. Then he turned on his heel and left, leaving Hilda alone in the amusement park.

xxxxx

It was dark now, the sun had set long ago. Hilda stood, facing the entrance, waiting. Waiting for Hilbert to come back. Waiting for anyone, really. She looked up, and watched the stars. All of them, in their millions. They were easier to see in Nuvema, where the light from the city didn't reflect up into the sky. The Ferris Wheel didn't help either. She watched couples get on, to see the view of the city at the night. She smiled, despite herself, at the thought of what had happened before Team Plasma had shown up in the City. Before N told her who he really was.

She shivered. It was getting cold. She checked the time on her Xtransceiver. 11:42. She gave up on Hilbert coming back to the Amusement Park, and headed on her way to the Pokémon Centre. She'd call him at some point tomorrow.

What will I say? I cant just call him after all that happened today and be all like "Hey, what's up?!" I'll have to think of something nice to say. Countless thoughts went through her head. She pulled her jacket closer to her, and walked through the automatic doors of the Pokémon Centre.