Okay, this chapter was supposed to go up a long time ago, and I don't know what happened. My story got all messed up! Soooo sorry! Anyways, here we are!

People were cheering. Cheering. Eva knew that everyone was crazy here, but cheering over a touching reunion? They didn't get out enough.

Without letting go of Luca, she turned to look at N. To her surprise he was looking at her, too, with a blank look that scared her a little bit.

"So you're Eva, I presume. Your friend told me all about you." His voice was a bit different, but she didn't know how. Was he mad?

"Wait, what? How'd a Pokémon tell you anything?" Terry was back in the main room, apparently, after running to his brother during the altercation outside.

"That's a good point, Terry. I think we'd all like to know." Lisa looked scary and suspicious, but luckily her skepticism was directed at N.

He looked almost… scared. She didn't know whether that was because of the look he was getting from Lisa or the idea of having to answer her. He leaned away uncomfortably, looking very interested in the floor all of a sudden.

"I... I've always been able to talk to Pokémon, for as long as I can remember." A few people gasped, some mumbled under their breath and one lady even started praying.

What was the big deal? She'd always been able to understand Luca fine, even if he didn't talk like people. Couldn't everyone?

"I don't know if I can believe that, Mr. N." Lisa didn't sound sure, like she thought he might be joking.

Somehow, Eva knew he wasn't.

N looked sad. He was probably used to people disbelieving or making fun of him. She knew what it was like to feel sad and alone.

Maybe that's why she walked up and held his hand.

"I believe you, Mr. N." She tried to look as adult and serious as she could. He looked down at her surprised, as did pretty much everyone in the room.

"I believe him too…" Perez said softly, probably afraid of being laughed at. "He might have saved my life today, so the least I can do is trust him."

"How do you know he didn't send those goons, Perez?" An adult Eva didn't know said crossly, making Perez shrink like he wanted to Teleport. A few people joined in, voicing their doubts about N.

"Stop it!" Surprisingly it was Elara, looking intimidating as she pushed people out of the way as she stormed to the front of the crowd.

"This kid saves one of ours, an' this is how y'all say thanks? Gimme a break!" She looked pointedly around the room. "Some o' y'all came here looking like Ekans in the grass, but we welcomed ya anyway! We trust people, and tha's how we survive! We don't go kickin' out honest folk cuz we be thinkin' they're strange. None of us would be here if'n Lisa's pop hadn't trusted us 'nuf to take us off the street! I'm ashamed o' y'all!" No one met her eyes, so she turned to N, who straightened a bit.

Elara said softly, "Y'all ain't got a place to stay here in Sunyshore, do ya?" N looked surprised, but shook his head, embarrassed.

"How'd you know, Elara?" Eva asked.

She gestured at N vaguely.

"A traveler knows a traveler when they see one, kidling. Plus, it don't take a trained eye to see the wear an' tear on this kid's pants." She pointed at N's pants in emphasis, making him cross his legs in embarrassment.

"Yer stayin' here tonight," She announced, daring anyone (including N) to disagree.

She nodded, satisfied, then turned to N.

"Now, I'm a-trustin' you, so I'm a' give you the same rules we gives any newbie." She held his gaze while she spoke, her voice carrying dangerous undertones.

"Don't even THINK 'bout stealin', fightin', or tellin' anyone who don't need our help that we even exist." N nodded, serious and tense.

A moment passed.

Suddenly Elara laughed, loud and strong, making everyone jump.

"Good! Now a' THAT'S settled, who wants dinner?"

"YAY!"

While everyone was preoccupied by their stomachs, N leaned down to whisper, "Please meet me outside after dinner. I have something important to tell you." Then he walked away, following everyone silently to the kitchen for food.

Eva was still hugging Luca, who stared after N with her. They looked at each other, and Luca seemed to tell her, You can trust him. She nodded, and hugged Luca harder.

What a day…

Hey-yo! I have that song from Terry's backstory in my head, even though there no actual tune to it in the game it came from, which is Pokémon Rangers: Guardian Signs. The main region there is Oblivia, which is where Elara's from. So, if you thought I made the song or region up, sorry, I'm not THAT creative.

PS I don't do disclaimers for every chapter because I find it stupid that I might have to. If I say it in one chapter, it applies for the entire story. GOSH!

Dinner was Mac N' Cheese instead of the usual pizza. Eva dug in, starving after such a stressful day. She noticed that N didn't eat any, although he did slip some fruit into his pocket. No one but Eva seemed to notice.

He didn't look very comfortable around so many people, and Eva felt sorry for him. She'd always been surrounded by Grunts back home, so she was used to noisy crowds.

She also noticed quite a few people looking at N distrustfully, and she felt indignant on his behalf. What had he done to deserve such a chilly reception?

Strangely enough, Billy joined them for dinner. He usually ate in his office, so his presence was a welcome change at the table (or tables; there were too many people to sit at just one). He kept looking curiously at N, as if he knew him from somewhere but wasn't sure where.

As usual, everyone who had Pokémon had them with them for dinner. Strangely enough, though, many of the Pokémon were gathering around N instead of the food. He looked a lot happier and calmer when they were there, and he even talked with them. It was a two-way conversation, too, not just him talking at them.

A lot of people didn't seem to like him talking to the Pokémon. They looked at N like he was crazy, and many people whispered amongst themselves while shooting pointed look in his direction. N ignored the looks, but Eva knew he wasn't oblivious to them.

After supper N headed straight for Eva. He didn't say anything, but he nodded his head towards the door.

Eva knew that she really shouldn't be going anywhere with a stranger, but it looked like N needed to talk to her. Did she know him? Eva didn't think so, though it was possible.

They both wriggled through the hidden entrance to the alley, though N had a much easier time with it, somehow. They patted themselves off, and Eva waited for Luca to come up after. After being separated for so long, she wasn't leaving him alone ever again!

"Um, there's a lovely beach not far from here," N said, as if he wasn't sure exactly how to talk to her. "A great friend of mine is there, and I'd like you to meet them." He held his hand out, and she took it, liking how safe she felt with him there to guide her.

They didn't have to walk far, but it took a little longer because N stopped a couple times to talk with the wild Pokémon of the city. He took the fruit he'd kept from dinner out of his pocket, and Eva realized that he'd been saving it to give to the Pokémon.

She smiled up at him, liking him even more.

Luca was happy too, playing with the other Pokémon and talking to them, although Eva wasn't sure what they were saying.

When they arrived at the beach, Eva was awestruck. She'd never seen the ocean before! The waves sparkled as they rolled towards the shore, spraying foam and mist as the crashed against the sand. She had the urge to run to the water and splash around like a Magikarp.

N was looking at the sea too, and he seemed just as amazed as she did, if more reserved.

He cleared his throat, breaking himself out of the beauty-induced trance, and whistled a short tune loudly towards the sea.

Was his friend a swimmer? There was no one else on the beach itself. It was just her, N and Luca there. Had he been lying about meeting someone?

N pointed out to sea, smiling. He had a nice smile, Eva noticed. He should smile more often.

"Here comes my friend, Miss Eva."

"Just call me Eva." He was too formal- it made her uncomfortable.

"Alright, and you can just call me N." He was in a really good mood, from what Eva could tell.

She followed his line of sight, but didn't see anything except-

"What is that? Is that a Pokémon? It's HUGE!" An enormous shadow was rapidly flying towards them, though she couldn't yet see what it was.

Eva blinked, staring hard to try to get a better look. It was white, the thought, and fire flowed off its body like hair. It was enormous, and flying faster than anything Eva's ever seen!

With a mighty cry, it landed on the beach, radiantly streaming flames. It had to be the size of a building.

"It's beautiful…" Eva whispered. Luca barked in agreement.

N walked right up to it, smiling and waving.

"Eva, meet my greatest friend, Reshiram."

I've got to get better at this. School is so UGH and life is so GAH and you know what I mean. Anyways, how will Eva react? You're about to find out.

Bits and pieces of old fairy tales and stories came back to Eva as she stood in awe of the towering white dragon which billowed flames into the steaming surf. It was a legendary Pokémon. As in a legend, not real, mythological. This wasn't a Pokémon that anyone could expect to see in their lifetime- and it apparently belonged to N, the vagabond who'd saved her and The Base.

"W-what? What is that?! That can't be real!" She tried to find some logical reason for a living legend to exist, but couldn't- there was no way.

N laughed, as if he didn't find it at all weird that his Pokémon was considered non-existent to most.

"I suppose it is a bit of a shock. He is real though. He's my true friend. He and I travel together now, learning everything we can about people and Pokémon. We're on a journey, like most children have."

"Most children have Zigzagoon or Pidgey, N! Not a Reshiram!" She waved her hands about to emphasize her point, but just looked like a startled Pidove.

N looked amused, and that really annoyed Eva more than anything.

"What, did you just bring me here to tease me?! 'Oh, look at my amazing Pokémon! Ha ha, im better than you! That's just mean!" She teared up a little, to her embarrassment, and quickly turned away.

N was silent, then he said, "Actually, I brought you here for a different reason. I want to know why those men were following your Pokémon."

Eva gasped. "They were? I mean, I thought it was a weird coincidence, but…" Why? Now that the others had told her about the Champion, and school, she knew that she'd overreacted- WAY overreacted- by running away. She might even go apologize soon. But if the Champion had sent armed men after her, then why should she trust him at all?

"I saw them following your Riolu into a dark alleyway. At first, I thought they might be poachers, but they grabbed him and kept going. When they pulled a gun on your friend, the red-haired boy, I knew I had to step in." He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Eva.

It was a grainy image of her and Luca, apparently taken while she was still in training at Galactic HQ. Her hands shook, both with homesickness and fear.

"So… you know now?" So was he here to take her into custody? Or worse?

"If you're talking about your ties to Team Galactic, then yes…" Eva braced herself for anger, or blame, or worse, "…and that's why I'm here. I want you to join me on my journey."

Wait, what?

"I know your situation better than most, I believe." He paused, then asked, hesitantly, "Have you ever heard of Team Plasma?"

Surprised, Eva nodded. "They were a team like Team Galactic, sort of, except they wanted people and Pokémon to be separated. They thought that people were bad to Pokémon, and they wanted to keep us apart. Then the Champion took their leader down, and they dissolved, right?"

N smiled. "Exactly. And… well, I was the one who Ash took down. I was the King of Team Plasma."

Eva stared at him, mouth agape.

"You? A king? Really?!" He smiled at her disbelief, but nodded solemnly.

"I was raised by the true leader of Team Plasma, Ghetsis, to believe that humans could do nothing but harm Pokémon. However, when I first began my independent journey to free all Pokémon, I realized that the Pokémon I was liberating wanted nothing more than to return to their trainers. I battled Ash over and over… and he always won. He opened my eyes, and helped me accept that humans and Pokémon don't have to be enemies. He's the reason why I was able to awaken Reshiram at all. Honestly, I probably owe him my life."

Eva looked down, suddenly very interested in her shoes.

"…So when he called me and asked me to find a missing little girl and reunite her with her Pokémon, how could I refuse?"

"What?! He sent you to come get me? I thought those guards-"

"Those thugs were no friends of the Champion's, mine or yours. I don't yet know who they were, but I plan to find out.