Chapter 23:

"Nothing, nothing, and oh look, a whole ton of nothing," Black grumbled as he shoved another useless file on neo Team Plasma aside into the already heaping stack of documents and case files on Hugh's desk in his old office. "A giant Frigate that looks like it belongs to a band of pirates can't just disappear off the coast. They're out there somewhere, and someone in all of the Unova Region has definitely seen them."

Cheren sighed as he turned off his phone when he heard the automated voice say the other line was currently unavailable and said, "I'm sure there is, but all of Hugh's old contacts he has listed have either disconnected their phones or aren't answering. They're probably terrified by what happened at Driftveil and have all our contacts have decided to either lay low or break off all contact. We've even lost most of our low-level neo Team Plasma informants as well since they don't want to have the same fate as Alice."

"Arceus, I hate this," Black growled as he began pacing the office back and forth. "We've been tracking down dead leads or trying to find nonexistent informants for a while now and we still haven't found anything. It doesn't help that neo Team Plasma has gone completely to ground without a trace. They don't even vandalize League property anymore. It's almost worse than a sudden wave of attacks from them. At least then we could actually do something instead of checking paperwork for clues."

Cheren leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose slightly as he tried to focus. "I know. It's like the calm before the storm. The Pokemon Masters haven't been having much luck either with patrolling the southern ports of Unova. At least we've gotten a tip that there's some heavy Team Plasma activity near Nuvema and Accumula Town." Cheren paused for a minute before saying, "We have to be missing something or maybe we're just not looking for the right things…" Cheren then pulled out the ledger they'd gotten from Virbank City and he scanned through all the materials neo Team Plasma had bought.

Black tapped his foot impatiently and grumbled, "We've been through that ledger over a thousand times. Professor Juniper said that the scientific equipment they bought was to study energy output as well as frequency waves. Not all that surprising since we know that they've built a device that can literally control Pokemon and even override a Whisperer's command."

"The melted Bronzong and Metagross metal is still weird though," Cheren said as he flipped through the ledger and added, "I've read that theoretically it can be used to create a psychic link between the owner and whatever device or object is created from that metal. I'm pretty sure the Galar Region ran an experiment with these melted metals and found that phones made with this would automatically link to the owners' mind making it easier to control and navigate. It was too inhumane though and then they switched to Rotom phones."

They continued searching through old files again in silence before Cheren said, "Maybe… maybe we've been looking at this the wrong way. Maybe we shouldn't focus so much on what they're trying to make, but rather how they're going to make it. This equipment takes massive amounts of energy to run and unless they have a whole farm of electric type Pokemon in their Frigate, they probably have to stay close to the shore to refuel."

"But Red and the others have been up and down all the port cities searching for the Frigate. Not to mention the coastal guard. They would have seen something by now."

"Not if they're relying on a different source of energy other than the power plants," Cheren said. "Most cities are run from the electricity and energy generated from rural farms, but there are also places that run on hydro energy generated by dams and more often, water type Pokemon. Cities like Undella Town, Humilau City, and Village Bridge are powered solely by hydro energy. Neo Team Plasma operates on a Frigate so it would make sense that they would try to siphon energy from the hydro plants around Humilau City. Maybe we shouldn't focus so much on southern Unova and try moving up north along the coast."

Black considered that for a moment and said, "It seems like a long shot, but… it's completely possible. We can tell the League our theory and then head up north to just do the footwork of asking around and seeing if anyone has seen a huge black ship."

"It's worth a shot," Cheren said. "While the Pokemon Masters take on the south, we'll look to the north."

"Crime has started to run rampant these last several weeks as the League has redirected more and more time and energy into finding neo Team Plasma. Just last night, a woman from Lacunosa Town reported that his home was broken into and had several heart scales, rare scales that can only be scavenged for along the more dangerous waters, stolen from his safe. Unfortunately, the police were unable to respond in time since they had received an odd tip that someone had not only seen several neo Team Plasma members along with the Plasma Frigate. The police along with the local Gym Leader and the Opelucid City Gym Leader looked all along Route 12 and the river to see if there was any sign of neo Team Plasma, but to no avail. Unfortunately, this has become a common occurrence throughout the Unova Region and neo Team Plasma has continued to remain frustratingly elusive.

"On the topic of neo Team Plasma, the League has still not come out with any official statement on the events at Driftveil City nearly two months ago. Aside from the leaked information that a League member, a neo Team Plasma informant, and three officers were all killed along with the arrest of a few Plasma members, the League has remained silent on all the events that happened that night. Some of the volunteers that helped with the raid claimed that there were trainers that disappeared that night as well, but the League still gave no information regarding that.

"Many conspiracy theories have begun circulating about what might have happened just as they did last summer after the League had managed to summon Reshiram and defeat Zekrom and the Plasma King. These theories range from-"

"Okay, that's enough of that," I muttered as I switched off my phone so that I was no longer listening to the news. I finished brushing my teeth and avoided looking at my reflection to avoid seeing the dark circles under my eyes or my pasty white skin. I finished combing through my thick hair before putting tying it into my ponytail.

When I finally left the bathroom, I saw Nightstar hovering at the top of the stairs peering down in a way that I knew he was trying to listen to something. That's when I noticed a series of muffled noises coming from downstairs. 'Was Dad back home already?' I wondered. He had gone to the Alola Region for a research conference and wasn't supposed to be home until next week so that didn't seem very likely.

I couldn't really make out anything that was being said, so I just walked downstairs with Nightstar trailing close behind. I walked by the kitchen and family room were to the front of the house. I heard my mom say, "-it's funny because you don't really sound like you're from the Kanto Region. When I was younger, I went on a study abroad in Cerulean City and-" I walked into the sitting room where my mom was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in her hands. She looked over at me and said, "Ivory! You're up. I was going to wake you up earlier, but Yellow and I started talking and I figured you'd be down here soon enough."

I glanced over to the couch by the wall closest to me and saw a man with dark black hair and eyes. He was dressed in athletic looking clothes and I immediately noticed his Whisperer badge along with his Pikachu who was sitting on the couch next to him. He stood up and said, "Ivory Greystorm, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name's Yellow and this is Storm," the Pikachu next to him had hopped up and excitedly waved when Yellow said his name. "I'm here with the Pokemon Masters."

"Oh, so you probably know Black then," I said. I looked down and away from Yellow as I said, "Um… have you found anything?"

"Not yet, but we have… noticed something that there's been some odd activities going on not too far from Nuvema and Accumula Town. We don't know what it is, but we think that it might have something to do with neo Team Plasma."

"So... are you… are you going to ask me questions about… um… because I've already told the League everything I know," I said quietly as I hesitantly glanced up to see his reaction.

"I do want to ask you questions, but I imagine that I'll be answering more of your questions than anything." I wasn't quite sure what he meant by that, but Yellow had already turned to address my mom, "Thank you so much for making that tea Mrs. Greystorm, it was delicious. If you wouldn't mind, may I speak with Ivory in private."

"Of course," Mom said as she quickly got to her feet and moved to leave. "You two have a good chat. If you need anything, I'll be in the kitchen."

I looked suspiciously over at Yellow again and said, "Are you really a part of the United Regions and the Pokemon Masters?"

Yellow considered this for a moment and said, "If you're asking whether I work with the Pokemon Masters, then yes. If I'm working on behalf of the United Regions, then yes. I was endorsed to work on this case by the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia, and I've worked alongside Red, Ruby, and Pearl for over a year now. However, I won't lie to you and tell you that's the full truth. My loyalties aren't with the League and I answer to someone else. It just so happens that the Leagues interests and ours currently line up."

"Wait, wha-" I started, but Yellow stopped me when he turned back to his bag and pulled out a small rod and handed it to me. I stared at the small finely carved wooden stick and slowly rolled in my hand. I paused when I felt the edge and bumps carved alongside one side of the stick. I rotated it and saw that a name had been engraved along the edge of it, 'Concordia.' Yellow then placed his hand on the rod and I swear his hand became… warmer… or something. Suddenly, both sides of the rod elongated so that it became a long fighting stick. "Oh, my Arceus. Concordia. How did you ever find this? Concordia's been gone for over six months!"

"She gave it to me," Yellow said simply. "When I asked her about you, she said that you were the little girl N had met and brought back to their home in Discordian Wood. She said that you were a very sweet, carefree girl that loved to play with Pokemon and N. She said the thing she remembers most about you was that during the wintertime you would sometimes visit with a backpack you had filled with food from your home."

I stared blankly at him and vaguely realized that my mouth was currently hanging open as I stared at him. I said, "Concordia left the Unova Region to go to the Sinnoh Region to find the… the… the Celestas."

"Yes," Yellow said as he again placed his hand on the fighting stick which then retracted back into a small wooden rod, "And she found us."

I again found myself gaping at him, but now my mouth was moving up and down in an attempt to say something, but no sound was coming out. Finally, I stuttered, "You-you're a Celesta. You're like… Concordia, Anthea, and… and N?"

Yellow smiled and said, "Yes and no. I'm a Celesta, but I'm not quite like them."

I felt like a million questions were exploding in my mind and I didn't even know where to start or even really how to phrase them, so I ended up saying things like, "How-what is a Celesta? Why don't people know you exist or do people know and they just don't say anything? Does the League know? Why were Concordia, Anthea, and N here in the first place? Why do you have pokeballs if you're a Celesta? Are there-"

"Ivory, Ivory, slow down," Yellow said with a slight laugh. "I promise I'll answer your questions, but I can only answer them one at a time. You're asking great questions, but most of them are a bit difficult to explain without first having a good background. First tell me what you already know about Celestas."

"I studied a lot about Celestas after I'd talked to Concordia and Anthea about it, and from what I could find, most historians think that a branch of Celestas existed in the Kalos Region originally when humans were all divided up into tribes and survived by hunting Pokemon and gathering berries. Celestas were more advanced, and they developed methods of farming and from there they spread throughout the Kalos Region and later to other Regions like the Unova, Alola, Galar, and even going as far as the Sinnoh Region. Historians say that even though they were conquerors that established themselves as the main power of each Region, they primarily spread their influence through their art and advanced technology.

"Most people don't believe the myths so much since they're so controversial in their portrayal of the gods, having the Celestas talk to Pokemon, and the fact that they semi worshiped their royalty. I read a lot of their myths too and they're interesting and fun… but kind of weird."

"Good, I'm glad to see you did a lot of research into Celestas," Yellow said as he sat down. "I'll admit that a lot of what you'll find is mixed with both truths and lies. I think the first thing you should know about Celestas, is that they aren't normal humans."

I sat across Yellow and said, "I kind of figured that with you being able to talk to Pokemon and summon Legendaries."

"Most Celestas can't summon Legendaries… in fact there are only two Celestas born every generation that can do that. I guess in your generation there were three… but that's definitely the very, very extreme exception and not the rule. Anyway, those two are considered royalty and the myths aren't wrong about most Celestas think of them more or less as demigods and most don't think of them as human."

I stared at him for a moment and said, "Wait are you saying that N's not… human… and… and… if not… what is he?"

"Now we're getting into the original mythology, most of which has been lost so the outsiders… I mean people like yourself don't really know it. In ancient times, humans used to fully worship the gods both night and day. They had high priests that would try to speak to the gods, most of whom were killed, and they would pay tribute which would sometimes include human or Pokemon sacrifice depending on which patron god they paid homage to. The Celestas were said to worship the god Yveltal who demanded human sacrifices. The original royalty, Caleb, was said to have prayed to Arceus for deliverance so that he could save and protect humankind from the wrath of the gods. Arceus is said to have transformed Caleb from a human to something else entirely giving him the power to connect with the Legendaries. The Celestas were also changed and gained the ability to speak with Pokemon. From speaking with the Pokemon, the Celestas learned to farm and raise crops while their kings and queens protected them from being destroyed by wrathful gods. Caleb promised from that point on that he and all his species, or his descendants, would continue their role in protecting humankind."

"Wow… so…" I tried to process what he was saying, but it was honestly so weird. Finally, I said, "I'm still confused… so you're not human because of these powers."

"More accurately it's because we don't think the same way humans do much like Whisperers don't think like humans."

"Wait a minute, I'm totally a human," I huffed. "I feel pain, I hate school and get average grades, I," now I look back down at my shoes and noticed that my vision began to blur as I stared at our carpeted floor. 'Keep it together Ivory,' I reprimanded myself, "I… I… I make mistakes that I pray to Arceus I could fix. I'm just like everyone else."

Yellow just shook his head and said, "No, you're not. No Whisperer is, and it's not because of your abilities or really your biology. Whisperers just… think differently than humans. They think much more like Pokemon do which is why they're able to connect to them so easily." I was about to protest, but Yellow cut in, "Think about it. Whisperers have the power to easily overthrow the League if they all decided to band together, but they don't. You have the power to go out and destroy Nuvema Town, rob banks, and yes kill people. Perhaps Pokemon Masters could stop you, but if you worked with a group of Whisperers, you could probably stop them. You could easily train Pokemon and take the world by force, but it doesn't happen. Whisperers going rogue is a rarity and most of the time there's someone else behind it. Whisperers are highly trafficked by Team Rocket because most Whisperers when they're bought and sold don't fight their new slave masters tooth and nail as long as they're treated well. The League also uses this to their advantage since they encourage young Whisperers to go into certain careers and fields. They also don't really send Whisperers to prison and instead have them under surveillance continually using their Whisperer abilities."

"I… I… I don't know why that is, but um… well… it's because… because…"

"You think more like Pokemon," Yellow concluded with an air of finality. "Ivory, Pokemon don't actively hunt humans or destroy them for ruining their territory. They may hunt and kill humans, but it's only for food and never for things like revenge or power. Humans dominate this world not because they're more powerful or more intelligent, but because they have ambition and drive. Humans have a desire to make things easier and more effective, they aren't content with sleeping in a pack and then going out to find food. They try to make their lives better and I must say it really isn't all that bad. The skyscrapers in Castelia City are gorgeous and modern technology is amazing and ever so convenient. Pokemon have the ability to create these things for themselves, particularly psychic, dark, ghost, and fairy which are the most intelligent types of Pokemon, but they don't because they're content with what they have and don't see the need for more. You'll be surprised how many Pokemon philosophize over the meaning of life or even basic ideas of what it means to be good and evil, but none of them feel the need to create a civilization.

"Another fundamental difference between humans and Pokemon, is that most Pokemon recognize and follow alphas. They don't question their alphas decision and follow through without hesitation. If a human can establish themselves as an alpha, then they can control those Pokemon. That's what they did before pokeballs, but now, humans rely on pokeballs to be able to try and create more of a connection with their Pokemon. Whisperers aren't alphas though. Pokemon view Whisperers as friends that need help and they're willing to go against their alphas commands unless the human has fully asserted himself as the alpha like Pokemon Masters do. Whisperers are like Pokemon in the sense that they too recognize and follow alphas as well as rarely having the desire to become a recognized figure of great wealth and importance."

"I'm so confused… I mean…" I shook my head and pinched my skin and said, "But… but I feel pain like a human, they're my friends, and I… Oh Arceus I'm confused."

Yellow smiled patiently and said, "Ivory, just because you're not like a human doesn't mean you don't belong with them. Your friends and family care about you for who you are not what you are. People sometimes have a hard time understanding this since they mainly accept things that look and act like themselves, but it doesn't really matter when it comes to people that love you."

'I guess it kind of makes sense,' I thought to myself. True, I had sometimes been annoyed that my life was a bit planned out, but I never once thought to myself that I wanted to change it… or that I could get more by exploiting the system. I had always assumed because I came from a good home and family, I didn't want to break the rules, but maybe it wouldn't have mattered. Maybe Yellow was right. I looked up and said, "I guess it makes sense. It's just weird to think about."

"Celestas are a lot like Whisperers in that sense," Yellow continued. "It's why Whisperers tend to join more often than humans."

"Wait you can join and become a Celesta?" I asked. "I thought you just said you were born into it."

"Royalty's born… and… I'll get to them in a minute. Anyway, no one is born a 'Celesta' in the sense that they gain powers and can speak to Pokemon. Take the example of how two fully evolved Pokemon won't have an offspring that's born fully evolved, Celestas have altered DNA, but it isn't passed along to their kids. Each child born in the Celesta Society is given the opportunity to see the outside world and choose to join the Celestas or to leave. Sometimes humans try and answer their own life questions," Yellow said while pointing to himself, "And they run across the Celestas who offer them both answers and an opportunity to join a new Society apart from humanity. I mean, there are steps to joining such as being considered worthy, learning the history of Celestas, and agreeing to live by all the rules, and of course the actual transformation itself."

"Wait how are you transformed?"

"Well… it's hard to explain and I can't really remember most of it, but there's a god named Deoxys that basically does it," Yellow looked over at Storm and said, "It wasn't the most pleasant process, but neither Storm or I regret it." Yellow then turned back to me and said, "Now to Celesta royalty… or alphas if that makes more sense to you."

I leaned eagerly forward and said, "Yes, I have so many questions about this. I mean… I love N and I'm grateful that he's alive… but… I mean… he has a horrible dad. You said royalty's genetic. I mean, what the Distortion World happened with all that?"

As I said this, Yellow's eyes darkened and said, "Royalty also don't act and think like humans, but in an entirely different way then Celestas or Whisperers. The reason royalty is born is primarily because they're a different species from humans, and a human wouldn't survive being turned into one. The power that royalty has naturally within themselves, would literally rip apart a human's cells from the inside out." Yellow sighed and said, "Royalty think differently than humans do, but unlike normal Celestas, they're born to be alphas which means they'll be more opinionated and assertive and expect others to follow them rather than the other way around. When history talks about Whisperers ruling the land, they really meant Celesta royalty. They're very powerful and luckily, they too aren't like humans. They have a natural disposition to help others and to be compassionate, but their power can… be very destructive. They aren't greedy or power hungry because they already know that they're more powerful than everyone else."

"Um… no offense, but why would you follow someone like that?" I asked. "I mean… they kind of seem stuck up."

"Well, I won't disagree that most adolescent royalty tend to be arrogant, but that's only a phase. When most royalty reach adulthood, they typically understand that their powers can't solve everything and can even make things worse. They listen more to their Guardians and the royal counsel before deciding on anything. However, your original question isn't about what normally happens, it's about what went wrong."

Yellow sighed, and said, "I don't know what happened exactly between Ghetsis and Melody, but I imagine he convinced her that Celestas and our way of life is wrong. It would go against Melody's nature to try and take over a Region purely based on selfishness and the need to be recognized. Most likely, Ghetsis redirected Melody's goodwill to match his interests. It really isn't surprising that Ghetsis formed a group like Team Plasma that "helps" Pokemon and promotes equality. It would be very easy to convince Royalty that if they led a "good" organization, they could use their powers to make an entire Region better. I will have to say that Ghetsis is one Distortion World of a liar and con artist to manage to convince Melody to have a child that inherited all her powers. It means that both of them planned on establishing themselves at the head of the government and then furthering their own legacy and political ideology through their descendants."

"Oh… and I guess I can see what you mean by humans," I said quietly. "There will always be a bad guy out there that sees something that will make him stand out from all the others and then twists it and uses it to their own advantage. It's sick."

"Yes, it is," Yellow said with an edge of anger creeping into his voice. "Ghetsis was doing the same thing with his son, and the man's so bent on ruling the world that he's willing to destroy countless lives to do it, and that's why I'm here now."

I straightened and said, "Okay, what is it?"

"Ivory, there's one last group of people in our society that I didn't talk about. The Guardians."

A/N: Lots of exposition and world building, sorry! There'll be more action soon!