Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Chapter 27: Nemesis N
Off all the cities in the Unova Region, Nimbasa was known far and wide as a shining city of entertainment. Among its many its many attractions were massive theme parks, sports arenas, and a Pokemon musical theater. The subway system of Nimbasa City was unmatched by any other city in Unova, and was at times used by trainers as a stage for battle. Ash and his companions found that they had to stay in this magnificent city of light for just a couple more days, as the bridge to their next destination, Driftveil City, had been closed for repairs. But they welcomed the break after the unfortunate events concerning Bianca and Noir Mask. That morning, Ash went up to go get Misty for their trip through the city.
"Hey Misty, are you ready?" Ash called as he knocked on the door to her room. The door opened to reveal a fully dressed yet somewhat depressed-looking Misty. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Misty assured him as she quickly put on a smile. "So, shall we get going?"
"Yep. Chili's waiting for us downstairs." Ash replied.
After meeting up with Chili, the group headed out of the Pokemon Center and into the city. Though as they walked they were still trying to decide on their exact destination.
"I'm telling you guys, we should check out the sports arena." Chili insisted. "I heard there's a big football game going on there today."
"I don't know. I'm a little more interested in seeing one of those Pokemon Musicals." Misty replied. "What about you Ash?"
"Well, I guess I'd like to check out this subway I've been hearing about." Ash admitted.
"We're in a city with tons of theme parks and a musical theater and all you wanna do is check out some dirty old subway?" Misty asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I heard they have battles in the subway." Ash pointed out. "Might be cool to check it out."
"It seems that you three are having a bit of a disagreement." A voice cut it. Ash and the others looked to see N standing nearby.
"Oh, hey N." Ash greeted. "It's been awhile. How're ya doing?"
"Pretty well." N replied as he walked up. "I was actually hoping I'd run into you here Ash. There's something I'd like to discus with you."
"Sure. What's up?" Ash asked.
"Not here. I'd like to have this conversation somewhere else." N told him. "Your friends are welcome to come with of course."
"Okay then." Ash agreed after getting nods from Misty and Chili. "Lead the way."
After a few minutes of walking through the city, N led the group to one of the larger theme parks. The park was packed with people of all ages and around them were many rides and attractions. The biggest of these was the large white Farris wheel that loomed over the whole area. N took them to a large vacant area by this wheel.
"So what's this thing you wanted to talk to me about N?" Ash asked.
"Before getting into that, there's something I need to make sure of." N replied. "And to do that Ash, I'd need to challenge you to a battle."
"Sure, I'm game if you are." Ash agreed.
"Very good. Come to me my little friend!" N called.
Emerging from the bushes was a small tan crocodile-like creature with black horizontal stripes on its back and on the bridge of its snout. Around its sepia-colored eyes was a black mask-like pattern, making it look almost like the creature was wearing sunglasses. Ash got out his Pokedex to find out just what he was looking at.
"Sandile, the Desert Croc Pokemon." The Pokedex identified. "These Pokemon make their homes under the hot desert sand in order to keep their body temperature from dropping."
"Okay then. Go Snivy!" Ash called as he threw out a Pokeball. The grass lizard emerged from her ball to face Sandile. "Let's start out strong with Leaf Blade!"
Snivy jumped into the air as the leaf on the end of her tail began to glow with a green light. She flipped around and brought the leaf down on the top of Sandile's head before doing another flip and landing about a foot in front of the desert croc.
"Use Sand Tomb!" N commanded. Sandile growled and suddenly a small twister of sand surrounded Snivy. "Now use Assurance!"
Sandile took off like a rocket and rammed into Snivy inside the twister, causing the grass lizard to cry out. A second later, the desert croc emerged from the other side.
"Hang in there, Snivy!" Ash called. "Use Vine Whip!"
Snivy's two whips extended out through the twister and swung at Sandile. But they missed their target and only struck the ground.
"It looks like Snivy's having trouble seeing through that twister." Chili noted on the sidelines.
"Use Assurance once more!" N commanded.
Sandile took off again into the twister and rammed into Snivy a second time. After it had emerged from the other side, the twister finally subsided. Snivy looked as though she was having trouble standing up.
"Use Bite!" N ordered.
Before Snivy could get away, Sandile rushed over with surprising speed and bit onto the end of Snivy's tail. Snivy cried out and began flailing her arms.
"Don't panic Snivy!" Ash called. "Use Vine Whip once more!"
Sinvy took a breath and extended her whips, bringing them down on the back of Sandile's head. The strike caused Sandile to release its powerful jaws.
"Let's hope this works. Hit Sandile with Attract!" Ash ordered.
Snivy turned around and gave Sandile a seductive wink, launching a pink heart from her eye. The heart hit Sandile in the face and immediately the desert croc was love-struck.
"Finish with Vine Whip!" Ash commanded.
Extending her whips once more, Snivy began striking Sandile repeatedly on the back. Due to Sniy's spell, Sandile looked as though he was enjoying the attack.
"No matter how many times I see this combo, it still looks wrong." Misty commented.
A few moments later, Snivy's attack ended and Sandile was out cold. With the battle over, N went over to tend to the defeated Pokemon.
"You fought well my friend." N told Sandile with a gentle smile as he gave him some potion. "Rest for now."
"That was a good battle." Ash told N. "But I'd still like to know what this is all about."
"Yes, of course." N replied as he stood back up. "I only needed to make sure that you were the kind of person I thought you were, which you are. You care deeply about Pokemon, and not just your own. Which is why I'd like to make you an offer."
"An offer?" Ash repeated with a raised eyebrow.
N snapped his fingers and suddenly a group of Team Plasma agents emerged from behind the trees and stands of the park and formed a circle around them. The Plasma grunts then got down and kneeled.
"N, what is this?" Ash demanded to know. "What're these guys from Team Plasma doing here."
"I called them." N replied as if the answer were obvious. "You see… I am the leader of Team Plasma."
The group was quite startled by this revelation, though Ash was perhaps the most startled. Ash felt as though he had been hit in the gut by a swinging log on a rope.
"…What did you just say?" Ash asked, wanting to confirm.
"Didn't you ever wonder why Team Plasma didn't interfere with you at the ruins Team Rocket had excavated in the desert?" N reminded them. "It was because I had ordered them not to."
"So you were there in Castelia City because Team Plasma was there too?" Misty asked.
"I felt that the matter needed my personal attention." N confirmed.
"So why are you telling me all this N?" Ash asked, his voice low and starting to brim with anger.
"Because I want you to join me." N revealed. "You and I are very much alike Ash. We both care greatly about Pokemon. Together we can free Pokemon from the oppressive hand of humans."
"What, by forcing people to give up their Pokemon?" Ash asked. "Forget it! I won't help with that sort of twisted plan!"
"How could you be opposed to Team Plasma's ideals?" a surprised N asked.
"Because they're warped!" Ash told him. "Trying to separate humans and Pokemon is just wrong!"
"…I see." N replied with a disappointed expression. "Then perhaps I was wrong about you all along. Very well then, I'll go. But know that if we should ever run into one another again, it will be as enemies."
Suddenly one of the Team Plama grunts got to his feet and threw out a smoke bomb, covering the area in a thick grey cloud. When the smoke cleared, N and his agents of Team Plasma were long gone.
"Should we try to go after them?" Chili asked.
"We probably wouldn't catch them in time." Ash told him.
"Ash, are you okay?" a concerned Misty asked.
"…I'll be fine I guess." Ash finally answered after a moment. "But it looks like N is really our enemy."
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter was kinda short. Obviously it was a significant chapter, but I was having a few problems with how to do it. In the end I decided to keep it a bit simple. Plus it was a little refreshing to do something short after doing two long chapters like the last two.
Please review and let me know what you think.
