Pokémon White: The Heroine of Ideals
I don't own Pokémon in any form, but twists of plot, as well as made up characters, belong to my imagination. Enjoy!
Chapter 25: The Unova Poké-Tournament Part 3
N was feeling rather good as he walked back to the VIP room. His battle with Iris was enlivening, and the Dragon-Pokémon Gym Leader was a remarkable opponent when it came to her Pokémon. It was a three against three battle: Iris's Haxorus, Salamence, and Hydreigon against N's Zoroark, Vanilluxe, and Carracosta. During the battle, he had gotten to know her better. She was firm but very gentle in handling her Pokémon, and she loved all of her Dragon Pokémon equally. Her Haxorus proved to be the toughest one of them, knocking out both Zoroark and Vanilluxe with its Outrage. But in the end, N ended up taking the victory with Carracosta's Ice Beam.
Good thing Leviathan and Touko taught Carracosta Ice Beam, otherwise it would've been a much different outcome. He reached the room and opened the door, expecting to see his lively brunette, but only finding Anthea and Concordia standing with their backs to him.
Odd. An unsettling sensation started to form in the pit of his stomach. "Concordia? Anthea? Where's Touko?"
The women jumped, obviously startled, and whirled around; the worried expression they wore made him even more anxious.
"Um," Anthea twiddled her thumbs agitatedly. "She left a while ago, with a girl named Siarah."
"Siarah?" N was confused. He and Touko checked the tournament schedule earlier, and Siarah is supposed to battle right after midday break. It was at that moment when something caught the corner of his eye. Resting on a small table by one of the large windows, was Touko's Poké Ball belt.
And every single one of her Poké Balls were still clipped on it.
His stomach twisted into knots. "She…didn't take her Pokémon with her?"
Concordia shook her head. "No. We insisted, but Touko said she would only be a moment."
Now he was panicking. "Where did she go?"
"The amusement park, Pichu Café." The rose-haired goddess replied without hesitation.
N faced the door and was about to reach for the doorknob when all of a sudden, the door opened on its own and an elderly man appeared in front of him. Even though the man wore a tattered brown cape over his black robes, the man's face was unnervingly familiar.
N couldn't believe it who he was seeing. "Sage Rood…"
His brown eyes warmed at the sight of him. "Lord N."
…..
Awareness slowly trickled back into Touko's mind, and the first thing she felt was the massive soreness in her neck. Her eyes fluttered open, everything was blurry at first before coming into focus. The young woman found herself in a large room, filled with computer monitors of many sizes that served as the only sources of light in the darkened place. She sat up and quickly realized her legs and arms were bound together by rope.
What the hell happened to me? I remember the Shadow Triad ambushed us at the amusement park…Her eyes widened when she remembered her red-haired friend. Siarah! Where is she!?
"I see you are now awake, Touko." a voice, all too familiar, reached her ears. Touko followed the sound and saw Colress appearing from behind one of the larger monitors, wearing his trademark arrogant smirk.
Her eyes narrowed. "I thought I told you not to get so familiar with me. Where am I? And where's Siarah!?"
Colress pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, keeping his overconfident mien. "You are in another of our temporary headquarters. And regarding your friend, why don't you ask her yourself?" He gestured behind her. Touko turned around and saw Siarah standing there, her freckled face pallid and with heavy regret haunting her eyes.
That look said it all.
"Siarah…" Touko couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it. "You…"
Siarah's lip trembled. "I-I'm sorry, Touko!" she blubbered. "I had no choice! They…!"
"Oh enough with the chatter!" A woman's voice cut in.
Touko sneered, she remembered that voice as well. "You're the broad whose ass I kicked back at Liberty Garden."
"It's Delia to you, you little bitch." The raven-haired woman appeared from out of the shadows. "Even though I couldn't get Victini at Liberty Garden, I will redeem myself to Lord Ghetsis and deliver it personally!" She approached Touko and her hands found their way under her black vest, clearly aiming for her Poké Ball belt. In that very moment, Touko thanked Arceus a bunch of times that she did not taking any of her Pokémon with her. Delia's triumphant smirk morphed into a snarl.
"Dammit, she doesn't have her Pokémon with her!" She glared at Siarah. "You! When I told you to bring Touko to us, her Pokémon were supposed to be part of the package!"
The young girl shook like a leaf, making Touko feel bad for her. "But, ma'am, you didn't mention her Pokémon! Only Touko!"
"It should've been common sense that we would also want the Champion's Pokémon, you foolish twit!"
"Please!" Siarah begged. "I'm so sorry! I'll find a way to get them for you, please just let her go!"
Touko furrowed her brows. Her?
"Yeah right!" Delia shot out. "It's only a matter of time before people realize the Champion is missing, we can't go back to Nimbasa City to retrieve her Pokémon! You failed us!"
"That is true, but she did help us capture Zekrom's chosen one." A third voice boomed in the darkness.
Touko bristled instantly; that voice belonged to the one man in all Unova who Touko actually hated.
Ghetsis.
The head Sage stepped in from behind Colress, dressed differently with a long, dark cape that had several images of eyes all over it and even his eye patch was different, red with black trimming. His real red eye focused on Touko, his thin lips spreading into a malevolent smile.
"We meet again, Touko White."
"Indeed, old man."
"My lord!" Delia spoke up again. "What should we do with the girl then? She failed to deliver Zekrom and Victini!"
"Please, sir! Have mercy and let my friend go!" Siarah got onto her knees, putting her hands together in a desperate plea. "She's innocent! I've done as you asked, please let us go!"
"What do you think, Colress?" Ghetsis glanced at the blond scientist.
Colress shook his head. "The chance that she will go running to N and tell him about this place is rather high."
"Please! I swear on my Ma and Da, I won't tell anyone!" The small redhead cried.
Ghetsis's smile turned icy. "And I believe you will, but…you did not bring the legendary Pokémon to me, so you must learn the price of not heeding my words." He snapped his fingers.
The room suddenly became blindingly bright, making Touko clench her eyes shut for a fraction of a minute. When she opened them again, the sight that greeted her sent fear rampaging throughout her body like a fast-acting poison. A large cylindrical tank stood in front of her and inside…was a Charizard covered in chains.
Oh my Arceus…It's Siarah's Charizard, Enya!
"Enya!" Siarah sobbed. She made a dash for her Pokémon when the Shadow Triad appeared in front of her; two of them swiftly seized each of her arms, holding her back.
Ghetsis snapped his fingers.
Delia tapped her earpiece. "Do it."
Water began to pool from below Enya's massive body, sending Siarah into a screaming fit of distress. "NO!" she struggled against the two men holding her, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "Please! Don't do this!"
Enya hissed and roared, frantically trying to break her chains, but no avail. The water started to rise within the tank and Enya lifted her tail as far away from the water as she could.
Touko struggled against her bonds as well. "Let that Pokémon go, you bastard! Your fight is with me!"
The sage had the nerve to smirk down at her. "Oh, I intend to. But not without teaching her a lesson first."
Touko froze in place, unable to tear her eyes from the atrocious act happening before her. Time seemed to slow down to the pace of a Venipede as the water continued to rise. Enya still fought to break free, but the water was almost at her snout. Siarah continued to sob out Enya's name from behind her. The tide covered the Pokémon's entire face, her aqua eyes now wide with horror. Bubbles streamed out of the Charizard's open mouth and it wasn't too long before the water reached her flame-tipped tail.
Touko knew all too well what was going to happen now.
Long before she received Blaze, she had read about Charmander and their evolutions. She knew their tails were their beacon of life. The minute the flame was snuffed, so was the Pokémon's life.
Enya's flame was instantly extinguished.
No! Her internal scream was mixed with outrage and fear.
She looked back at Siarah. Any lingering traces of anger she felt towards the young girl from earlier crumbled when she saw her face. Her peridot eyes were as wide as saucers from grief and shock, her already pale face was as white as Reshiram's wings, and her lips quivered violently.
Then, she let another grieving wail pierce the room. "ENYA!"
Touko bit down on her lip, hard, to keep from crying herself. It was too cruel…she had wanted to be taken captive so she could get information. But, never in a million years, would she have imagined it would involve Siarah and her Pokémon.
The petite Champion faced forward again, seeing Enya's limp form in the now-filled tank. A newfound sense of fury shook her to the very core, tensing every muscle in her body. Angry tears spilled hotly down her face as she narrowed her eyes at the man behind it all.
"Damn you to hell, you murderous son of a bitch!"
Ghetsis dismissed her outburst with a faint wave of his hand. "Enough, take the rest of the girl's Pokémon away and then you can leave her outside the city. They will be perfect test subject for Colress' finished machine."
"No!" Siarah protested.
The third ninja appeared next to Touko, took out a small pouch from his pocket, and blew a silvery powder in her face. Before she could even utter a single word, darkness swallowed her up again.
-Nimbasa City-
N was stunned.
Sage Rood stood in front of him, his aged face breaking out in a faint smile. "Lord N, it has been a while."
In a flash, Amara and Amani were at N's side, glaring at the elderly sage. "What do you want with N, Sage Rood?" Anthea demanded quietly as both she and Concordia walked up to them.
"Leave this place at once." Concordia added. "We are done with Team Plasma."
"P-Please wait!" An unknown female voice cried out. "Sage Rood means Lord N no harm! We're here to help, we know where they took her!"
A young woman, a few years younger than he, stepped out from behind Sage Rood. She was dressed like an ordinary Trainer with her white and blue long-sleeved shirt, pink and white visor, yellow shorts, and black leggings. Her long mahogany hair was tied back into two large buns with long locks hanging from them. Her light blue eyes darted nervously between N and the goddesses' Pokémon.
Her words caught N's attention. "Wait." He said to Amani and Amara. The two Pokémon relaxed their tense postures, but still kept their eyes on Sage Rood and the girl. He focused on the newcomer. "What happened to Touko?"
"She was apprehended at the amusement park by the Shadow Triad, the redhead girl lured her out." The pigtailed girl explained.
Siarah, no doubt. But why? Why would she betray Touko like that? "You know where they took her?"
"Why, yes! To Virbank Complex in Virbank City, my lord. The new Team Plasma made the complex their hideout after Chargestone Cave."
"Why should we trust you, sage?" Concordia cut in.
"I do not expect you to trust me, but please trust Mei. She was part of Team Plasma, the former Team Plasma that Lord N once led. When Ghetsis took over the new Team Plasma, Mei infiltrated their ranks as a double agent." The man said.
The goddesses looked at N uncertainly. N couldn't blame them for their distrust, he was wary of Sage Rood himself.
Reshiram, do you sense any threat from either of them?
No, young king. Even though the girl carries Pokémon with her, I feel no threat from her. She is telling the truth.
And that was all N needed to know. "Anthea, Concordia, please withdraw Amani and Amara. I will listen to what they have to say." He eyed Sage Rood and Mei. "Come on in."
…..
Apparently, a few weeks after the fall of Team Plasma Castle, Sage Rood and a good number of ex-Team Plasma members also learned the truth behind Ghetsis's manipulation. So, they proceeded to return every stolen Pokémon to their rightful Trainers. They have a house on Driftveil City where they help take care of wounded Pokémon, as well as the Pokémon whose Trainers they were unable to locate.
"So, when we first heard of the New Team Plasma, Mei volunteered to act as a spy and monitor their activities." Sage Rood said.
"So, you know what they are planning?" N asked Mei.
The girl shook her head. "I'm afraid not, my lord. As a lowly grunt, it is difficult to get access to that kind of information. I was hoping to get more details about their plans when they informed me about the tournament."
"Please, do not call me 'my lord.'" N insisted. "I am no longer a king. And hopefully, Touko is learning their plans as we speak."
Sage Rood arched a white brow. "You mean…Zekrom's heroine wanted to be captured?"
"Yes, that is the reason why this tournament came to be. Touko figured she would be able to discover their plans if they seized her."
"But, I gather this was not the way she planned it."
"No." N sighed. "I never thought Siarah would do that to Touko."
"Regardless of Touko's plan. How will you be able to free her?" Concordia spoke up.
The group was instantly shushed by the sudden knocking on the door. "Hey, Touko, N! Are in there?" Cheren's voice came from the other side.
Look like we'll need a plan and fast, N walked over to the door. He grew more and more worried about Touko by the minute; he prayed to Arceus that she was all right. I will come for you, Touko, just like I promised.
…..
Touko woke up groggy and disoriented. She sat up slowly, ignoring the sudden dizzy spell that made Staryu dance behind her eyes, and took in her new environment. The room was pristine white, from the walls to the floor. There were no windows or furniture, even the damn door was white. The blue-eyed girl glanced down at herself and saw that she was now only bound by the wrists. She didn't even bother thinking much of it; they knew she couldn't run away due to the fact she didn't have the first damn clue where she was.
But then, she remembered the horrendous scene back in the other room. She recalled the horror in Enya's eyes as the water suffocated her, Siarah sobbing and screaming while she tried to reach her friend, and…her broken expression when she saw Enya's flame extinguish.
Overwhelming grief and guilt assaulted her senses, bringing tears to her eyes. While she knew deep inside she couldn't have saved Enya in her bound state, she still felt guilty for involving her and Siarah in her mess. Suddenly, the memory of the cruel smirk Ghetsis wore during Enya's inhumane execution snuck into her mind. She took a quivering breath, letting the surging anger towards the man steel her wavering determination. Touko furiously rubbed the tears away with her arm and clenched her hands tightly.
I need to find out what Ghetsis is up to, no matter what it takes, and I don't care one damn bit how much pain he'll put me through. Soon enough, I'll make that asshole pay for what did to Siarah and Enya; I'll make sure that Enya's death is not in vain.
A soft click from the door startled her out of her thoughts. The door opened and the Shadow Triad walked in, inexpressive as ever.
Oh great.
"Lord Ghetsis wishes to speak with you." One of them said.
The man next to him came up to Touko and lifted her off the floor effortlessly over his shoulder. "Dammit, not again! Can't you jerks just walk me there like normal human beings!?" Touko wriggled in protest.
The stoic man said nothing as they took her down a long hallway and back into the large room she was before, where Ghetsis, Delia, and a Seviper awaited her. Uneasiness weighed down on her when she spied the now-empty tank.
Deep breath, Touko, remember why you're here. She reminded herself.
The man who was carrying her settled her back on her feet in front of the head Sage before the Shadow Triad blinked out of the room.
"Welcome back." Ghetsis greeted her.
"Oh, cut the crap. What the hell do you want with me?" Touko bit out. Knowing Ghetsis the way she does, that man will end up telling her.
After all, he loves to hear himself talk…and she was banking on that.
Ghetsis looked at Delia, who nodded slowly with a malicious smirk on her face. "Seviper!" The woman snapped her fingers. The large snake Pokémon charged at Touko with inconceivable speed and wrapped its body around her, causing the brunette to gasp out loud. She swallowed a hard lump in her throat when she heard its menacing hiss next to her ear.
Calm down, he won't kill you. If he wanted you dead, he would've already ordered it.
The elderly man smiled humorlessly. "Well, I originally wanted that useless boy because he would've been easier prey but Colress insisted on taking you in his stead…he has many questions for you after our little chat."
Touko tensed within the snake Pokémon's hold, she certainly didn't like the way he talked about N. In spite of her current situation, she decided to give him a piece of her mind. "Don't misjudge him, old man, N has grown much stronger since the battle at Team Plasma Castle. After all…It was underestimating people that got your ass handed to you the first time around." She reminded him with a sardonic sneer for good measure.
Ghetsis's smile faded into a thin line, his red eye burning with infinite promises of retaliation. It probably wasn't a good idea to rile him up, but she figured it was time to grab the Tauros by the tail and look it in the eye. And the said Tauros in front of her was certainly riled up under that stony face of his. Without as much as a word, he closed the distance between them in a few large strides and struck her across the face. Her head snapped to the side from the force of the blow and she could taste a subtle hint of copper in her mouth. She licked a bead of blood away from the inside of her lip.
For an old bastard, he's got some strength. She knew that was going to bruise later on. The azure-eyed lass slowly turned her head to face him again.
"Things will be much different this time, and they will start with you. You will give me what I want." He growled.
"Oh yeah, and what's that?" Touko challenged.
The sage's cruel smile returned. "I want to know where Kyurem is hiding."
She frowned in confusion. Kyurem? Is he talking about a Pokémon?
"Kyurem, the legendary dragon of ice. Since you are Zekrom's chosen one, you must know of its whereabouts. Now tell me, girl, where is it!?" Ghetsis demanded.
She had a bad feeling this sadistic man was not above using torture to get an answer out of her, already judging by having Delia sic her Seviper on her, but she had to know what Ghetsis wanted with this "Kyurem."
She started with denial. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh really? I think this may change your mind." He looked at Delia.
The female Team Plasma underling eyed Touko nastily. "With pleasure, Lord Ghetsis. Seviper, Wrap!"
Seviper hissed and tightened its grip on Touko. Pain shot all over her body, tearing a cry from her throat. Her ribs felt as if they were on fire under the Pokémon's hold; she had totally forgotten the fact that her bruised ribs were still healing.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
The older man was obviously enjoying her pain. "Well?"
The young woman took rapid and shallow breaths, trying to disregard the acute agony spearing her every nerve end. Arceus, it hurts! It hurts so much! With tremendous effort, she glared at her captor. She reached within for her hatred towards him and wrapped it around herself like a blanket; a fire blanket against an inferno. But…I…I can't give in!
"Even…even if I knew…do you seriously think…I would tell you?" She spat between shaky gasps.
For a fleeting second, Ghetsis's eye widened in surprise before narrowing into a slit. "You impertinent child! Delia!"
"Tighter, Seviper!" Came the command.
Touko let out another scream as the pressure on her body increased. She was finding it difficult to breathe properly, causing her to grow dizzy. Never in her whole life had she felt such pain, threatening to subdue her willpower and break it into a million pieces like a shattered mirror. I…must…go…on…
The petite woman spat some blood at the sage's feet in an audacious act of defiance. "Piss…off…!"
His face cracked into full-blown rage. "You little bitch! I'll show you what happens when you defy the future king of Unova!"
She didn't hear Delia shout to Seviper for her consciousness was already slipping through her fingers like sand. The pain faded into the back of her mind and the last thing she saw was the elderly sage shouting angrily before she fell into the void.
"Curses!" Ghetsis bellowed when he saw her go limp in Seviper's grasp. "And I still couldn't get anything out of her!"
"Leave her be for now." Colress said, walking into the room. "If she dies, then we will not know where Kyurem is. Wait until she wakes, then we can try a different method to make her talk."
The sage gritted his teeth in frustration. As much as he wanted the girl gone from existence, he knew the scientist had a point. Back when that foolish N was under his control, the boy had confided in him about the chit actually hearing Reshiram's voice when it first awakened at the Dragonspiral Tower.
And if she was able to understand the white dragon, then she is able to communicate with the dark dragon of ideals.
"Fine!" He hissed. "I'll have the Shadow Triad keep an eye on her for the time being. Shadows, take her back to her cell at once!"
The Shadow Triad rematerialized next to Seviper.
Delia quickly ordered her Pokémon to release Touko into one of the ninjas' arms and the three men bowed to Ghetsis before taking her away. He stared at the men's fading forms. I am nowhere near done with you, Touko White. You will break and soon, I will have Kyurem's power at my fingertips!
Author's Note:
Wow, Ghetsis's cruelty knows no bounds…poor Siarah and poor Touko. I just finished playing Pokémon White 2 and saw that a random male grunt from old Team Plasma was spying on the new one for Sage Rood, so I decided to add Mei into the story as the double agent! We're getting close to the end of the story, in about 5 chapters or so is my guess. And, I'm thinking of another one-shot after I finish the story, but with Sequelshipping; it's got some potential there! Hope you all liked this chapter and stay tuned for the next one!
-Mistress Ness