Last time on Tony's Journey...

Tony finally took the first step away from his home with no one but his Pokemon by his side! Now, he heads to Accumula Town, and then to Striaton City for his very first gym badge!

What will happen next? Find out now!

Travelling was nothing like Tony had imagined it to be.

It was even better.

The wind blew through the brown grass, ruffling it as it passed through. Leaves fell from the trees at the wind's caress, and the sun shone in the sky. The Route was devoid of almost all life, save for the occasional Patrat that watched them go by.

Tony's legs had never felt better as he walked up Route 1. He had a heavy pack on his back, yes, but he somehow felt very light. This was it: the big adventure of his life was just at its beginning. From now on, he was responsible for himself and his Pokemon, and him alone. He'd have to make his own living out here, for him and his Pokemon.

Route 1 wasn't a very big Route at all: just about a mile of a dirt path that led to Accumula Town. Tony would have gotten to Accumula much faster if he actually hurried along, but he didn't. This was the first step, the very first day on his own had to be savored.

Lucky and Sunny were with him of course. Sunny had gotten tired of walking and ended up crawling right on top of Tony's head - which just so happened to be Lucky's favored spot. The Butterfree glared daggers at the Larvesta's back as they travelled along, angered that Tony was just letting the baby lie down wherever she pleased.

However, Lucky hid her resentment and her jealousy well, at least while Tony was there, and he went on blissfully unaware of her jealousy towards Sunny. Soon, he began to hum a travelling song he had heard back in Kanto. Sunny, as it turns out, was keen with a beat, and soon was chirping happily along with the tune.

Finally, after an hour of walking slowly and steadily along Route 1, Accumula Town came into view. Accumula was the closest town to Nuvema, and it reminded Tony a bit of Viridian City, back home in Kanto, being Nuvema's main link to the larger, more industrious cities like Striaton and Castelia. Soon, grass and dirt changed into concrete. Brick buildings stood by the streets, and the streets themselves were filled with people of all shapes, sizes and colors. Oddly enough, some of the city was elevated from the rest, standing on a huge concrete platform with steps that lead down to the lower parts of the town.

Tony looked around, feeling quite impressed and also a bit frightened. He hadn't been to a town this big in a long time, and he felt a little sheepish. Still, he couldn't become champion if he was afraid cities, so he went on.

"Jeez..." Tony muttered as he looked around. "This place is huge..."

"Freeeh," Lucky agreed, staying close to her trainer. She had never been to a city this big at all.

"What do you think, Sunny?" Tony asked the Larvesta, who was still perched on his head, comfortable in his warm, blonde hair.

"Vrrrr," Sunny said, lazily.

"That's right, you were born here, weren't you? Tony said, remembering that the Larvesta's tags said that she came from the Pokemon Center in Accumula. "I guess this place has a lot of... memories, for you."

"V-Vrrr..." Sunny said, sadly.

"Hey, no worries!" Tony said. "We're not staying for long! We'll be out of here before ya know it! We need to hurry to Striaton, after all!"

"Vrrrr," Sunny gasped, not wanting to stick around as memories of that night returned to her. The rain, the mud, the Mandibuzz... She shuddered and clung to Tony's head even harder.

Lucky rolled her eyes. Oh, brother... Such a child...

Tony felt his stomach growl. "Heheheh," he chuckled, embarrassed. "I'm kind of hungry. How about you two?"

"Freeeeh."

"Vrrrrr."

"Good!" Tony said. "Let's find someplace to set down for lunch, eh?"

As Tony walked down the streets, his eyes searching for a suitable location for lunch, he ran into a familiar face - or rather, she ran into him.

"GANGWAY!"

Wha-!? Ooof!"

Tony hit the ground with a huff, Sunny, getting flung off of his head and landing unhappily on the pavement.

Groaning to himself, Tony got up, dusting himself off. "You again?"

Bianca slowly picked herself off of the ground as well. "Heya, Tony!" she said. "Fancy seeing you here!"

"yeah, yeah, fancy that," Tony muttered, picking Sunny off of the ground and dusting her off. "You okay?"

"Oh, I'm fine!" Bianca said.

"Not you, Sunny!"

"Oh."

"Vrrrrr," Sunny chirped

"Good, no scratches or bruises," Tony said, relieved. "Glad to see you're safe and sound."

Lucky gave an envious huff. She didn't notice Bianca reaching for her until the blonde girl yanked her into her arms. "Freeeeh?!"

"Wow, she's even cuter than I remembered!" Bianca cooed, nuzzling her cheek against Lucky. "I wish I had a Butterfree."

"A common lament," Tony conceded. "Careful, she might dust you again..."

"You wanna trade for her?" Bianca asked, eagerly.

Tony and Lucky blinked. "What?!/Freeeeh!?" they shouted in unison.

"I'll give you my super awesome Lillipup!" Bianca offered.

"I wouldn't trade Lucky for an oasis of water in the middle of the desert!" Tony retorted, snatching the Butterfree away.

"So... That's a no?"

Tony sighed, feeling frustrated. "Yes, Bianca."

Lucky wasn't sure to feel angry with Bianca or grateful. On one hand, the girl wanted to take her away from Tony. On the other hand, Tony was now paying attention to her. The Butterfree decided not to dust Bianca, just this once of course.

"Hey! Cheren! Tony's here!" Bianca shouted.

Tony turned and sure enough, there was Cheren as well, walking towards him with that same, almost expressionless face he normally wore. "Tony," he greeted. "You're here."

"Yeah, I am," Tony said as casually as he could. "I'm going on a journey now, too."

"Good," Cheren said. "I don't want you getting out of practice. I want you at full strength when I beat you."

"Fine, fine..." Tony sighed. "Look, if you want a battle, can we do it after lunch? I'm hungry."

"Freeeh!" Lucky agreed.

"Fine, fine, no rush," Cheren said. "By the way, Bianca..." he added. "I was coming here to tell you something. There's a commotion at the plaza."

"Really?" Bianca asked. "What kind of commotion?"

"Apparently, some sort of speech is going to be made," Cheren said. "I was informed that it regarded Pokemon trainers."

Tony groaned. "Great timing. They give the big important speech when I'm gonna have lunch... whoever they are..." He looked at Cheren curiously. "Who is giving the speech, anyways?"

"I don't know," Cheren said with a shrug. "But it was supposed to be important."

Tony sighed. "Alright, girls," he told his Pokemon. "Let's go and check it out..."

"Freeeeh..."

"Vrrrr..."

"Oh, come on, we can eat lunch later!"

By the time they had arrived at the plaza, it was already packed to the brim. Children and adults, young and old, lined the plaza, all staring up at a small stage that had been built on a grassy patch. Tony was grateful that they had managed to get good spots to watch the speech.

It seemed like everyone in town had come to see this speech. Everyone was muttering to themselves, wondering what was going on, and when the speech would start.

Tony stared silently up to the stage, quickly seeing the occupants. Of course, it didn't take a genius to spot these guys: they stuck out like sore thumbs. They were clad in white uniforms that reminded Tony of something a medieval knight might wear, with hoods that wrapped around their heads and black and white shields with a blue letter P on their chests as their coat of arms. There were men and women, and all of them looked pretty young. There were two banners on the side of the stage, each one with the same black and white shield on them.

The crowd was restless, and even seemed a bit nervous. Two words were uttered endlessly: "Team Plasma."

"Who're these guys...?" Tony muttered to Cheren, who was standing in between Tony and Bianca.

"It's Team Plasma..." Cheren said. "They're a religious group, or so I'm told..."

Tony looked over Team Plasma again. He was religious himself, but he didn't wear something that silly. "Wonder why they're here?"

"We're about to find out!" Cheren said in a low voice. "Hush!"

A single Plasma walked forward, onto the stage. He looked over the crowd and then pulled out his bullhorn. "Announcing the arrival of His Lordship Himself, the Arch-Sage Ghetsis!"

The Plasmas in the back parted and a tall, intimidating looking man walked onto the stage, his long, pale green hair and his robes billowing in the wind. The Plasmas closed in behind him, and the herald slowly backed away, bowing as he did.

Ghetsis was a tall man, with a head of tea-green hair that hung down to his back. He had a strange, eye-patch looking thing across his eye (which served a purpose no one knew). He was wearing a long, elegant looking robe (although Tony thought it looked like one of those snuggies he kept seeing on infomercials). One side of the robe was violet with the image of a golden eye, while the other side was the opposite, golden with a violet eye, each eye with a red iris. He stood tall and proud, with a piercing gaze and a suave smile.

"Looks more like a politician than a sage to me..." Tony muttered.

Ghetsis looked over the crowd, smiling - or rather, smirking at them. "Good morning," he said, his voice as handsome as his smile, and it was loud. Ghetisis was used to giving speeches. "My name is Ghetsis. I am the Arch-Sage of Team Plasma, and the second in command. My great king has requested that I make a series of speeches to the people of this lovely region."

"We heard that it was supposed to be about trainin' Pokemon!" someone shouted in the crowd.

"Oh, it is," Ghetsis answered, completely nonplussed about being interrupted. "Today, ladies and gentlemen of this lovely town, I would like to talk to you about Pokemon Liberation."

Sunny squealed in fear and swiftly hid behind Tony, trembling with horror. Tony barely noticed though: his eyes were glued to the stage, wondering what on earth this man was talking about.

"We've lived alongside Pokemon for countless centuries, have we not?" Ghetsis asked, looking over the crowd. "We live together, work together... I'm sure most of us think Pokemon as our partners, hmm? Our friends?"

A murmur of approval swept through the crowd.

"But... Is that true?" Ghetsis asked. No one answered him, so he went on. "We humans - we take Pokemon from their homes in the forests, caves and ocean. We capture them in Pokeballs, and then we use them. Pokemon are used to battle, to do menial labor - they are made into slaves."

A roar of outrage echoed throughout some of the crowd.

"Lies!"

"Shut up!"

"No one wants to hear this!"

"Beat it, old man!"

Ghetsis sighed melodramatically. "My good people..." he continued. "Have you ever considered that maybe - just maybe - we are not as good friends to Pokemon as we believe we are? That maybe we merely assume that Pokemon wish to be with us?"

The crowd was silent. No one offered an answer. "Pokemon are amazing creatures, aren't they?" Ghetsis continued. "They have unlimited potential - but do they ever reach it, or do we scoop them up and ruin them before they can?"

Another outcry of anger rang out, but Ghetsis silenced them with his words: "I have something - no, someone, to show you." He turned to his grunts. "Please, bring him forward."

The grunts respectfully parted, and a small Patrat walked onto the stage, noticeably limping. He wore a pained expression on his face. "This Patrat was once owned by a trainer," Ghetsis explained as the Patrat stood next to him. "He was happy in the wild, but when the trainer caught him, he became domesticated. He lost those instincts that allowed him to survive in the wild. We rescued this poor creature when his trainer abandoned him in the wild. He would have perished.

"Raaaa..." The Patrat moaned, nodding. He remembered those horrible days...

"When we capture Pokemon..." Ghetsis continued. "We ruin them! We steal their instincts, we steal their ability to survive on their own! We must release our Pokemon before their instincts are dulled! We must liberate all Pokemon!" he shouted.

The crowd was silent. Many were doubtful of Team Plasma, but many were also doubtful of themselves. Could they truly be ruining their Pokemon - forever?

"Soon, good people of Accumula," Ghetsis shouted, "we must make a choice! Slavery or freedom! Pokemon as our tools - or Pokemon as the perfect beings they were made to be!" he finished, raising his arms into the air dramtically. "Thus is the will of Plasma!"

"Plasma!" the Plasmas shouted, saluting their Arch-Sage.

"We must part with you now..." Ghetsis said. "But please..." His voice softened. "Keep what I said in mind..."

"Formation!" the Plasma with the bullhorn shouted to the troops. The Plasmas gathered their banners and surrounded Ghetsis, leading him away from the stage and out of sight. They vanished amongst the buildings of the city.

Tony watched them as they left. People began to talk and mutter with one another as they walked off.

"...Are we really so horrible...?"

"Cottenee, do you hate me?"

"Maybe I should let my Throh go? I only just got him... He can't be ruined yet..."

"This is absurd," Cheren said, coldly. "If a Pokemon hated its trainer, it would leave on its own."

"Yeah!" Bianca said, knowing that Cheren was almost always right. "My Snivy-Wivy and my little Lillipup love me to bits!"

Tony looked over to Lucky, nervously. "Lucky, you like me don't you?"

"Freeeeh!" Lucky chirped. "Of course I like you! You're my best friend!

"Do you mean it?"

"Freeeeh!" You saved my life when I was just a baby! We grew up together! Of course I mean it!

Tony smiled. "Thanks girl," he said, hugging her. "I love you, too."

Lucky gave a happy sigh.

"How about you, Sunny?" Tony asked.

Lucky groaned as Tony turned his attention to his Larvesta. He managed to get her off of his back. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked the trembling Torch Pokemon. "Are you afraid of those Plasmas?"

"Vrrrr..."

"Why would..." Tony began. "Uh... Hmm..."

"What?" Cheren asked.

"When I found Sunny..." Tony began. "She had a birth tag on her neck, and she had residue Pokeball radiation. She had a trainer before me."

"Wow, really?" Bianca asked.

"That makes sense," Cheren said. "Or rather, it makes more sense than finding a Larvesta in Nuvema Town at pure random."

Tony looked over to the stage where Ghetsis had been. "I think..." he began, "that maybe Sunny's owner saw a Team Plasma speech - and he or she let Sunny go."

Sunny nodded. "Vrrrr!" Scary!

"Don't worry," Tony said, patting her on the back. "I'm not gonna let you go..."

Sunny nodded, tears still in her eyes. Thank you...

"Y-Your Pokemon..."

Tony nearly leaped out of his skin. He gave a yelp of surprise and whirled around. Standing not five feet behind him was a young man with a white coat and tan pants. He had long, tea green hair, and a black and white cap. His icy eyes bore into Tony's, and his face was expressionless. Next to the boy were two Pokemon. A Timburr, hefting a large log and a Purrlon, who was lazily eying them.

"W-Who're you?" Bianca asked, surprised.

"My name is N," the boy replied, stepping forward. "Forgive me, Lucky, Sunny, for listening in on you and your... eh, trainer... but I could not help but overhear you."

Lucky and Tony were equally surprised. Why would N apologize to a Butterfree and a Larvesta?

"Freeeeh?" Lucky chirped. Tony, what does this guy want?

"I want to be your friend, of course."

Lucky gave a shriek, backing away. F-Freeeeeeh!?"

N stepped closer. "Yes. I can understand what you're saying."

Cheren looked unimpressed. "Slow down. You talk too fast. What are you talking about? Humans cannot understand Pokemon language. It's impossible."

"So you can't hear them either," N said, shaking his head with remorse. "How sad. You, on the other hand..." His eyes bore into Tony's. "You speak with your Pokemon as if they were equal to you. You ask them for their opinion. They genuinely like you."

Tony blinked. "Uh... Thanks?"

"You can actually understand what they're saying?" Bianca asked. "That's so cool! How do you-?"

N ignored Bianca, and Cheren as well. He was focused on Tony at this moment. "Your Pokemon like you... Yet you train them to battle? You are a trainer, yes?"

"Well... Yeah, I am," Tony admitted.

N stepped closer again. "I am too... But I have to wonder... Are Pokemon really happy inside Pokeballs? I don't think so."

"Well, Lucky doesn't like it," Tony admitted. "She hates being cramped. So, I never put her inside one unless I really need too."

"I see..." N said. "...Battle me."

"Excuse me?" Tony asked.

"I want to hear your Pokemon's voice again!" N declared. "Battle with me!"

Author's Note:

Well, looks like Tony's met up with Cheren and Bianca again, along with Team Plasma! Will he accept N's challenge? Is Pokemon liberation really such a good idea? How can Tony be in trouble already!? He only just left Nuvema!

Tune in next time to find out!

Reader question! Which of the Unova starters is your favorite? Tell me after you review!

Now review please!

Tony's Party:

1: Lucky, female Butterfree

Ability: Compound Eyes

Move Set: Silver Wind, Confusion, Sleep Powder and Dream Eater.

2: Sunny, female Larvesta

Ability: Flame Body

Move Set: Ember, String Shot and Morning Sun