Brown eyes cracked open, starting out as mere slits before squeezing tightly closed again. Touya made a small groaning noise, rolling onto his side as he tried to escape the lights. His body felt weary, muscles aching slightly – as if he had run a marathon instead of been lying in bed. It must have been in the afternoon by now – his mother was probably downstairs, tutting away at how her 'little boy' was sleeping too much. Perhaps even contemplating waking him up, or if she should just leave him. Ever since Touko left on her journey, adventurous girl she was, he had been sleeping later and later, minute by minute. The house felt just a little bit emptier without his twin, and all Bianca and Cheren had wanted to talk about lately was beginning their own journey. Touya had… been hesitant. That was a big wide world out there, and what if he was not good enough? What if he was a horrible trainer, and his Pokémon resented, even hated him? Cheren was so dedicated – studying every night to learn what types were most effective against which, watching videos of trainers challenging the Elite Four and learning new tactics… and Bianca? She just wanted to learn, to see the world. She inspected maps when her father wasn't looking, and pestered Juniper about what Pokémon could be found where. Both would be wonderful trainers. Would Touya? Could he even…?

"Dew…" A little voice trembled, a voice that was perhaps too little for its owner. Touya's eyes scrunched together more tightly, and he attempted to burrow beneath a pillow. But to do so, he had to shift onto his side and something – no, some thingsmade noises at him! "A-ah, what?" The brunet gasped, shooting up in sudden alarm because there were things squirming next to him in his sleep and that wasn't normal! The bright fluorescent lights temporarily blinded him, making him dizzy and disoriented at first. That wasn't the sun? "Dewott!" The voice cried out, only this time it was louder and more excited – and the owner pounced on Touya. "Dew, Dewott!" The Pokémon cried – his Pokémon, his starter.

"D-Dewott…? What, then who…?" Touya's brows furrowed together, frowning slightly as his brain began to fast-forward in attempt to catch up to everything. Shuffling out from beneath the blankets was a disgruntled Venipede and pouting Solosis. Wait, those weren't his…
The Cold Storage. Team Plasma. He was supposed to take them to the Pokémon Center! Looking around him, it suddenly occurred to Touya that he was already at the Pokémon Center. And the three Pokémon before him? Looking far better than he had last seen them – Dewott looked as though he had not just been in a battle, the Solosis was fuller and less deflated in appearance, and the Venipede had no more visible injuries – merely scars of the past on her body. Was this the same Venipede that had bit him… earlier? Yesterday? A few hours ago?

"What… what happened?" He finally asked, raising a hand to rub his head in bewilderment.

"I thought I heard a commotion in here!" Nurse Joy chuckled, poking her head into the room with a delighted smile. Touya stared at her, still confused. "You should really be more careful, you know." The woman tsked, and held up one finger before disappearing back into the hallway.

"Dewww, Dewott!" The water-type cooed, snuggling fervently against his trainer's belly. The brunet glanced down, and offered a hesitant smile down to the creature before affectionately rubbing Dewott's head. On the subject of heads… reaching up, fingers ran through brown strands – nope, no hat.

"Veni." The Venipede started, and lightly nudged Touya's leg with its feelers before scooting away again. The Solosis chirped, and either rolled or glided onto his lap next to Dewott.

"Do you two… belong to someone?" Touya mumbled, and then looked to Dewott. "Those Pokémon… are they here too?"

"Ve, Venipede!" The bug Pokémon announced, and the psychic-type next to her chirruped this time in a pleased tone.

"Dewott!" Came the final confirmation from the otter-like creature, who motioned at the Venipede and Solosis also sharing the bed. This only confused Touya further – why would they want to sleep with him? Looking down at the small bug, the brunet bit his lower lip as he mulled over what was going on.

"Do you… did you feel bad about biting me?" Touya asked, and at the hesitant nod from the Venipede he had his answer from one of them. "But why are you here, Solosis…?" His reply was a little squeak, and friendly nudge. Or maybe the Pokémon was simply rolling from the movements – the brunet was having trouble telling. The creature reminded him of a ball of jelly. Re-entering the room was Nurse Joy, carrying a tray of various foods – both for the human and the Pokémon in the room.

"You do enjoy living on the wild side, don't you?" The woman chuckled, setting the tray down. Dewott immediately reached forward, grabbing the assorted treats before dispersing the foodstuffs between himself and the other two Pokémon as evenly as he could. Touya blinked up at her. "You're very lucky these Pokémon were with you. While the poison in your system wasn't much to be concerned with, the cold temperatures could have been the end of you!" She finally elaborated, and the brunet's eyes widened slightly at her. "This little guy," She motioned at the Venipede, "pestered some workers in there until they went to see what was up. And then there they found you, lying unconscious with a giant pile of Pokémon to keep you warm! You must have made quite an impression on them." She chuckled, and patted the young man on the head.

"A-are they all okay?" Touya blurted both grateful for the explanation but also worried. He had made a promise! And besides, if those Pokémon were nice enough to keep him warm until Venipede was able to get help… he pulled his Dewott into a hug; he happily snuggled into his trainer's arms.

"That depends on how you wish to look at it." Nurse Joy sighed. "Physically, they are all healing very nicely. But it'll be years before they are willing to give humans a chance. A lot of them are trying very desperately to escape at every chance they get. It makes treating the more severely injured ones much, much more difficult." She finished, her eyes tearing up slightly. "Oh, I don't understand why trainers battle their Pokémon into such conditions! And then when the Pokémon are too weary and tired to move on, they just leave them to fend for themselves like that! Tell me, how can a Pokémon protect itself when it can barely stand?" Stomping her foot, the nurse stared at him with a trembling lip but burning blue eyes. She then paused, realizing that she was venting at a patient and coughed to cover the sudden shame coming over her. "I… I apologize."

"It's okay." Touya offered her a half-smile. "I don't really… I didn't know people even did that…" The brunet trailed, and he looked down at the Venipede and Solosis contently chewing on their treats.

"A lot more than most people realize." Nurse Joy whispered. Taking in a deep breath, she forced herself into a bright smile – just for her patient. "But you were very lucky, and unlucky I suppose. Venipede's poison alone isn't enough to paralyze a young man such as you – perhaps a small child. But we found some trace amounts of another poison, and we've been able to identify it as a Trubbish's. Were you battling someone in there?" Nurse Joy peered at him, narrowing her eyes slightly. "If so, I'm going to need to report this. Trainers that injure other trainers in battle is against the law."

"Oh! I-it was an accident." Touya rushed, fervently shaking his head while his Dewott angrily nodded his own. "I was… my friend and I, were helping the Gym Leader, Clay with finding some people in the Cold Storage. I think they panicked, and… well, it wasn't on purpose. They aren't… they aren't like that."

"I see." Nurse Joy stared at him a bit longer, trying to decide if this was a lie, and if so whether or not she would swallow it. With another sigh, this one more theatric, she threw her hands in the air. "Very well. I'll tell Clay he can't use you to press charges on Team Plasma." The woman shook her head, chuckling softly at their Gym Leader. Touya smiled awkwardly to her laughter, and closed his eyes recalling the Cold Storage.

"Nurse Joy?" He stared, opening his eyes again recalling something.

"Yes?"

"How long was I out for?" He was curious – now that he knew the Pokémon were okay, there was a cascade of conflicting emotions and memories demanding his immediate attention.

"Oh… just overnight. I think part of it was you just being tired." She assured him, this smile more pleasant and heartfelt than some of her earlier ones.

"…do you know how long I was out before the workers found me? Did I have any visitors?" He definitely heard voices before falling completely unconscious. Or perhaps the poison caused his memories to be skewed, and he heard them earlier in a moment of drifting in and out of consciousness (though he could not recall any 'drifting').

"Anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour. We're not wholly sure about even that, though. We were more concerned with getting you better. As for visitors, there was a young man – Cheren, I do believe. He made sure you were okay, checked in on you, and then went along his way. He was a very… brisk young man." Nurse Joy sniffed, and looked at the brunet with an apologetic smile. He just returned the expression with a grateful one of his own.

"That's Cheren. He doesn't like it when people know he's worried. It isn't a very 'strong' personality characteristic in his opinion. Touya explained. "But… did anyone else visit, or try to talk to me…?"

"No. No one that I saw, anyway. I can ask around the Pokémon Center though, and see if anyone knows anything else. But don't let it worry you, if we don't find anything. I've been working here for years – we've had a couple trainers come in asking about visitors they never received. Personally, I think that when a person is in that void between being awake and being asleep, when they're actually listening, really and truly… they can understand what their Pokémon are saying. Of course, that's just my opinion. You don't have to agree with me. Is there anything else you need?"

"I… no. I don't. Thank you very much, Nurse Joy." Touya thanked her, and she left him with a smile before heading off to take over the front desk again. From his room he could hear her,

"Welcome to the Pokémon Center…" He stared at the three Pokémon, all of which were now looking up at him with different expressions. Dewott's was curious, Venipede's looked almost surly, and Solosis… hopeful? Surprised? The brunet was not exactly sure. But… he wondered if Nurse Joy was right. If in those moments before he drifted off into that dream, if he had really heard the Pokémon talking to him. Deciding to make a wild leap towards possible insanity, the brunet placed his head on Dewott's head. "I don't want to lose you either." He said, and flushed slightly because he felt so silly. Honestly, how could he understand his Pokémon's speech? He wasn't N. The brunet tried to ignore the flutter in his chest, as the images of his dream floated through briefly at the thought of the green-haired trainer.

"Dewott…" And the water-type hugged him so tightly, rubbing his cheek against Touya's arm – the whiskers tickling his skin but he could ignore that because for the briefest of instances the brunet was surprised to realize he had understood his Pokémon on the same level N understood all Pokémon.

…

…

…

Hands flat on the ledge, N stared out into the afternoon sky as he let the wind blow through his ponytail. He was thinking, calculating… dreaming. There were a lot of things about other humans he had never really understood. People assumed in a person loved math, he was down-to-earth. He was grounded in facts, and never let his mind soar into the skies with the flying types. But that was not true. Yes, N liked his facts. He liked knowing things. But he also loved to dream. N had dreamed a million different dreams, all of them more beautiful than the next. All of them with the same core concept – Pokémon being free to be as pure and beautiful as nature intended. To let the world grow, not to watch it dwindle. People consumed what the world had to offer far more quickly than the earth could replenish itself. A world in which humans no longer onslaughted that delicate balance with their greed and violence.

But lately, his dreams had taken on a slightly different turn. There was N, friends with Reshiram and the entire world made pure again. The Pokémon were free, and there were no more excesses. Every time after the dream though, N could feel a hand – a human hand, undeniably warm and comforting – tentatively reaching forward to hold his hand. And N let them, because he knew the hand belonged to Touya.

This was a dangerous dream to keep having, and even more dangerous because he cherished it so much. The king of Team Plasma kept thinking back to the Ferris wheel, before he disclosed his secret to the brunet. The way Touya looked at him, hopeful and shy. How easily and comfortably their hands enclosed around one another. N had been nervous at the time, but even so those briefest of moments had been an entirely different sort of perfection… but there was only one perfection: a world of free Pokémon.

This meant a world without humans – including N and Touya.

But the idea of a world without Touya somehow made the man so… sad. Sad was such a simple word, intended more for the use of children rather than adults such as him. Yet, all those more complex words to explain such a powerful emotion seemed so terribly overdramatic that the innocence and simplicity of 'sad' was all that more effective in describing the sensation. He would be sad in a world without Touya, simple as that. At the same time though… a world without humans also meant a world that N was not in, so he would not even feel sad after the fact. He would not feel at all.

"But still…" N sighed, lids lowering slightly as he watched the two Tranquills weave in and out of one another's way in a dance of feathers and love. A courting ritual. Those two had been found three months apart, little Pidoves badly wounded from trainers using them to strength their own Pokémon. But still, the idea of a world without Touya still seemed too sad without the brunet's awkward smile to make it… no, not brighter. The sun was there to brighten or darken things as necessary. No, that smile was just there to make N's stomach turn to knots and his heart to feel elated. Perhaps if he could… separate humans and Pokémon? Then his friends would be safe, and he could… perhaps then, he and Touya could become friends again. He smiled softly at the thought. Friends again… they could hold hands again. And perhaps, just maybe, have a second Ferris wheel ride. Maybe then N would say what Touya wanted to hear, whatever it was.

Maybe then N could make these feelings stop, powerful as they were, and remain just Touya's friend. Nothing more. The brunet was a kind person, and even though he had hurt Touya already… N did not want to hurt him further by taking advantage of his kindness by wanting to be anything more. No, those feelings would have to be reined in. They could just be friends – N was fine with this. So long as they were close again, someday.

"But still what, King N?" A man's voice inquired from behind. N's smile fell, his facial muscles working and reworking themselves through several different expressions. Finally, he turned around to stare at Ghetsis with a mildly inquisitive visage.

"But still, there are several kinks in the current formulas." N replied, not necessarily lying either. Temptations were not exactly helpful to plans intended to save all of the Pokémon. "For example, I still do not have the means to bring forth Reshiram and befriend it. The Gym Leaders seem to be becoming more aware of our movements and actions, and have taken it upon themselves to defend the trainers instead of the Pokémon. And, there are Pokémon trainers being given ultimatums from these Gym Leaders to assist in discouraging Team Plasma activity. I heard Clay even told a few trainers they could not challenge him until our members were taken care of, and the rescued Pokémon returned to their abusers." His jaw clenched, and his hands on the ledge quickly turned into balled fists. It was not because of the man standing before him – no, his fa…. Ghetsis had accomplished a great deal for Team Plasma.

Ghetsis was a powerful speaker, and knew his way with words around people – unlike N. The king was also quite confident that if Ghetsis had asked Touya to join, the brunet would have. N cursed his own selfishness for having ruined that chance – he should have just mentioned the brunet to Ghetsis, and then… well, then he would not have hurt the other. Being human had far too many drawbacks. Too many wild emotions coming into play, and not enough time was spent thinking on what must be done no matter how much time N dedicated to doing just that. Somehow, his emotions always managed to crawl in and ruin what he was trying so hard for. Instead, N was tensing for the simple reason that those who should have been protecting Pokémon… were not.

"I see." Ghetsis nodded solemnly, keeping his hands at his sides even as the drafts of wind occasionally blew his cloak open. The older man glanced up at the two Tranquills, saying nothing for the moment. Both men fell silent, and the bird Pokémon glided through the air and to a different ledge – perhaps to begin building a nest together. "My lord N… you are well-aware of how much of Team Plasma's efforts are going towards the legendary Pokémon, and how much dedication we have to saving Pokémon without causing harm to more… and not to question your dedication, but as of late you have seemed… distracted. The Shadow Triad working for me has also been giving me some concerning reports, which is why I am here now. I wish to speak with you about such matters, if you would permit it."

"…right." N nodded, taking in a deep breath as a gust of wind ran across his face. Turning around to face Ghetsis fully, the two stared at one another for the briefest of seconds – and more than anything, N wanted to call the elder man by a different name. But those days were over, and were no longer of concern. "What are these reports?"

"There seems to be three trainers in particular our grunts keep running into. One is a young man named Cheren, another is a young lady named Bianca, and the last one is another young man named Touya. Now, from what I understand you and Touya are… well, I've been a bit curious. Some of the grunts have been curious as well." Ghetsis began, and stopped simply to give the king time to respond. The man did not rush his king, simply stood there silently waiting. Always waiting, always patient. That was a characteristic that N wished to obtain someday – patience.

"Yes. Touya." N nodded, working his jaw as he tried to find a way to explain the brunet without making a fool of himself and all of his followers. "He's… his Pokémon have said very interesting things from the start. I wanted to understand better as to why… and in doing so; I learned more about the trainer himself." Beneath the steady gaze of Ghetsis', N had to work harder to not be flustered – to simply deliver the information. There was nothing to be ashamed of. There was no shame in wanting to recruit potentials for Team Plasma. There was no shame, there was no shame… "He's a very… kind person, and treats his Pokémon with love and respect. I had… mistakenly thought that he would see and understand the viewpoint of Team Plasma. He's still a good person, just he has no idea how most of the human population treats Pokémon."
There was no need to defend Touya from Ghetsis. The man could form his own opinions well-enough, and through the Shadow Triad could learn enough about the brunet to know what N said was true. So why was he still trying to defend Touya's lack of response?

"I've seen him, a few times. Once in Castelia. He was with Burgh." Ghetsis said softly, and nodded to N. "My lord, I understand your happiness is seeing there are still good people in the world – rare as they are these days. I am happy, as well. But there is something you are forgetting – he is surrounded by people that hurt Pokémon every day, and he does not even realize it. He is ignorant, and thus he does not know what sources to trust… I am sorry to say this, but I do not think you should trust him. People as easily swayed as he is, those who let themselves drown into the gray areas of morality… they are not safe."

"But Touya isn't…" Even before N could finish, Ghetsis was already shaking his head sadly.

"I am sorry to tell you such unfortunate news, my lord. Please, do not let yourself be blinded by what you want to see. That's how humanity has fallen so far – by only seeing what they wish to, and not what is really there. You have seen what is really there – he has not. He may never see it, because people that are kind by nature tend to have very fragile hearts. Seeing the cruelties of reality breaks them. I am sure you have already seen how fragile he is." Ghetsis' tone always remained even, soft, and even apologetic.

"…I…" N bit his tongue, not letting anymore words out. His shoulders shook slightly, but he forced them to still. He thought back on his encounters with the brunet – how much Touya needed his Pokémon to support him, how upset he was after N told him the truth… N let his shoulders droop, but he nodded. Even so, he desperately wanted to prove Ghetsis wrong. To show him that Touya could handle reality, that he could… that he could be a member still. He already told Zinzolin about Touya perhaps being the other hero, but maybe there was still time for Cheren or Bianca to be that other half… "Yes, Ghetsis of the Seven Sages."

As though he heard the younger's thoughts Ghetsis began, "I have an idea. Perhaps we should test Touya… see if he the trainer you see him as, and the Shadow Triad believes him to be. He's in Driftveil, at the moment… I think the Shadow Triad can set something up and we can see how he fares…"

A/N: Holy skittles, a short chapter again! I don't know about you guys, but I am most certainly thinking, "ABOUT TIME." Right. So... I am trying to find a happy middleground for the Pokemon battles. I seem to keep making them either too abrupt, or too sketchy. There is only one or two Pokemon battles throughout this whole fanfiction that I will really concentrate on, but it was also pointed out to me that skipping over them entirely is both awkward and dismisses moments of character development. So, any critiques and suggestions for improvement on how I can manage the Pokemon battles better would be IMMENSELY appreciated. In other news, I am so excited for AFO...! It isn't for several months, but I am still pumped! We're putting a Pokemon group together...!
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have any affiliation with the Pokemon franchise. This is simply a fanmade work, and I write it purely for fun.