After the incident with Team Plasma and the little girl's stolen pokémon; Bianca, Cheren, and I make our way south along Route 3. Along the way, we encounter a couple of Blitzle and I catch one for myself, filling the sixth slot in my team. There's a funny moment later on with another trainer using a Blitzle at the same time as me. Not bothering to switch out to anything else, it becomes a contest of whose Quick Attack is more effective since electric moves have no effect.

Eventually, the three of us arrive in Nacrene City. We walk down the street to heal our teams at the Pokémon Center and I take a look at the surroundings.

"Do people actually live here?" I wonder out loud. "There's nothing but warehouses."

Cheren explains, "Years ago, these were textile factories and storehouses. When they were abandoned, designers and artists moved in and started using them as studios. Some of their fans occupied the rest of the buildings, and others decided to set up shops. All of these things as well as the local museum have earned Nacrene the nickname 'City of Art.'

"Cool...I guess."

We reclaim our pokémon and discuss what to do next.

"I'm kinda hungry," Bianca says. "There's a café up the road I want to visit, so that's where I'll be if you need me." She doesn't even finish speaking before running off.

Cheren sighs and wipes a smudge off his glasses. "It's just not in her nature to stay in one place, is it? Still, lunch does sound good right now. Are you coming, Grey?"

I shake my head. "Nah. I'm going straight to the gym!" I smile and clench my fist in excitement.

Cheren smiles at me as if he knows something I don't. "In that case, I wish you the best of luck. The leader uses normal-types."

"Ha! This should be easy then."

Cheren gives me that smile again before turning and walking away. I brush it off and find a bulletin board with a map of the town, searching for the gym. Apparently, it's down the street from the café Cheren and Bianca went and right next to the museum. The names are close together anyway. But when I get to where the gym is supposed to be, all I see is the museum.

After a few minutes of walking up and down the street (even looking behind the museum), I finally understand why I can't find it. The gym and museum are in the same building. Well if the one in Striaton could function as a restaurant, then why not?

Before I can go inside though, the doors open and someone steps out (just like last time). It's a young man about my age with long green hair and...Oh no! It's this guy again! What was his name? L? Q? M? N! That's right, his name is N...Weird name. He walks out of the museum with his hands tucked in his pockets. He must remember me as well, because when he sees me, he starts walking over.

Here we go again. As he breaks into another nonsensical monologue, I make a game of thinking up cynical comebacks.

"I...want to see things no one can see," N says.

And how exactly would you do that?

"The truths of pokémon inside Poké Balls."

I didn't know they could lie.

"The ideals of how trainers should be."

...I got nothing witty to say there.

"And a future where Pokemon have become perfect. Do you feel the same?"

I stand silently as I try to figure out what in the world he's talking about.

Finally, I just decide to be honest. "Dude, I have no idea what half the things you say are supposed to mean. Could you try not to be all cryptic? I'm sure the ladies love it, but it's just getting on my nerves."

N gives me the same blank stare he always does as he replies, "You do not understand because you are not ready. Perhaps my friends and I can help you see that future." He reaches for I Poké Ball.

Now he's speaking my language.

He calls out a Pidove, and I counter with my new Blitzle. Despite the favorable type matchup, Blitzle is still somewhat weak. Its Shock Wave attack is effective, but it's not enough to keep Pidove from swooping in and landing a few good hits. Blitzle hops to the side to avoid an Air Cutter before closing the distance with Quick Attack to finish N's pokémon.

Pidove is recalled and replaced with a small blue-and-black pokemon the Pokédex identifies as the water-type Tympole. I can tell Blitzle is hurting from that first round, so I switch out with Pansage. The Tympole starts off with Supersonic causing Pansage to become disoriented. Pansage tries to use Vine Whip, but the vines end up wrapping around its legs and bringing Pansage to the ground. I watch in suspense as my pokémon struggles to free itself, all the while being bombarded by attacks from Tympole. Pansage finally breaks loose and unleahes a strike on Tympole just as it fires a Bubblebeam. The beam hits Pansage with full force while the Vine Whip only lands a glancing blow at best.

I return Pansage to his ball and send out Purrloin.

"Kitty wants some fish," I remark under my breath.

As Purrloin attacks with Fury Swipes, I can't help but wonder how it can be a dark-type and not know a single dark move. Not even Bite! I guess it doesn't matter what moves are used just as long as it can still put up a fight. And that's exactly what Purrloin does. Fury Swipes lands a few lucky hits and Tympole goes down.

"I will not be stopped," N says as he sends out his final pokemon: Timburr.

Timburr is a fighting-type, and it takes all of my strength not to laugh maniacally as Munna takes the field. Not only is Munna a superior type and awesome in terms of absorbing damage, it can also use Psybeam with incredible efficiency. As his Timburr falls to a single blast, a flicker of emotion crosses N's face. I'm not sure what emotion it was, but I take pleasure in being able to slip past his guard.

He lowers his head to adjust his cap, and his face is once again an expressionless mask when he looks back up.

"My friends aren't strong enough to save the world yet. I need more power. Power that will make everyone agree with me."

I assume he's just ranting about losing. "Whatever, man. If you ever feel the need to be humbled again, come find me. You seem to be showing a knack for it."

N moves past me and walks away, mumbling to himself. I catch a mention of Reshiram, one of the legendary pokémon that supposedly created Unova. I decide to approach this guy with caution from now on and turn to enter the museum/gym. A sudden thought stops me and I clutch my head in frustration.

"Agh! I just came from the Pokémon Center, and now I have to go back!"

True story: The first time I arrived in Nacrene in the game I really did spend a couple of minutes looking for the gym before thinking to check the museum. It's moments like those that provide such good writing material.