Chapter 13: The Ferris Wheel, the Battle Subway, and the International Police?! Enter Kyouhei and Touya!
"Once upon a time, there was a prince who wished to experience true love. One day, he met a girl who had been turned into a Swanna. This was how they met."
"You got that, Bianca?" Professor Juniper asks her assistant, who is carrying a thick folder loaded with research papers in her scrawny arms. Bianca nods her head, exits Bridge Gate, and heads into Castelia City. As they traverse Oceanfront Road, they observe the multiple docked ships resting in the four piers. When a chain of businessmen inevitably blocks their view, they face forward and continue on their way until they reach Gym Street.
As the name suggests, the Pokémon Gym is the most notable building on that stretch of road. Across the street from the gym is the Medal Office, a building that is the same as the stale, gray skyscrapers around them. Bianca recalls how it used to be a hideout for Team Plasma when she was on her journey. She can never forget the sinister aura surrounding Ghetsis as he calmly ordered his followers to return her Munna.
If the Shadow Triad manages to bring Ghetsis back, just how much pain will Touko and N go through? Bianca doesn't want to know the answer to that. That's why she has to help Touko in whatever way she can.
As they enter the office and then the elevator, Bianca presses the button that will send them to the third floor. Abruptly, Professor Juniper says, "So, about that favor that you requested…"
Her blonde assistant straightens herself. "Y-Yes?"
"Professor Kukui said that he can give you his answer today. He also wanted to apologize for taking so long."
"He doesn't need to apologize for that! It was very last-minute, and I did ask him to look into it as soon as he could. He must be busy with his own research, so…!"
"Relax, Bianca," the professor lightly advises, "He's happy to help a fellow researcher. Though, I have to wonder why you asked him such a specific question."
Bianca clutches the folder in her arms. "I can't tell you why."
Juniper isn't expecting such a quick response, but she catches how her assistant isn't radiating her usual clumsy aura. Whatever is bothering her isn't something that she can help with.
"That's fine," the professor says, "Once you're done with that call, we can start unpacking our equipment and get right back to work."
Bianca heaves a sigh of relief. "Yes, of course!"
One quiet ding later, the two scientists enter Fennel's apartment and walk under the arch that the elaborate machine Fennel uses for her research has. Fennel and her two assistants all give a short wave to them, but they then quickly return to their work. At the back corner, to their right, is a work desk cluttered with many cardboard boxes and stacks of papers. A desktop monitor and keyboard are the only things within Juniper's possessions that they have managed to unpack.
The professor sits down on her chair and opens the link to the video call that Professor Kukui has arranged. After giving several seconds for the call to connect, a tan, rather buff man appears on the screen. He has a blinding smile and a neatly trimmed goatee. His white cap and sunglasses do nothing to hide the infectious joy that he exudes. While the window of the call cuts off most of him, Bianca can tell that the lab coat he's wearing is the only thing covering his upper body.
"Thanks for picking up, Professor Kukui," Juniper greets, "This is my assistant, Bianca. She's the one who's been wanting to meet with you."
"Nice to meet you, Bianca!" He says, his voice louder than she expects.
"Yes, nice to meet you! T-Thank you for taking the time to help me."
"It's no problem, cousin! I rarely get the chance to talk about my research with anyone. You can come to me for anything relating to Pokémon moves, yeah."
The way Kukui speaks manages to wash away the rest of Bianca's nerves. "Thank you again, Professor. So, what did you find?"
Kukui crosses his arms. "Fusion Bolt is definitely a Pokémon move. The user shoots towards the heavens, drowns the battlefield in dark and ominous clouds, and then...kapow! What I would give to see that in action just once!"
Bianca nods. That does match the description that Touko gave the other night. "You haven't seen Fusion Bolt before?"
"That's right, but multiple references all describe the move in the same way. This move has been used before, enough for humans to record it, yeah. And there is also one more thing that every source says in regards to this move."
"Which is…?"
"Since the beginning of Pokémon research, there is only one Pokémon that can naturally learn Fusion Bolt. That Pokémon is Zekrom."
After helping Mei cover her acting job back in Virbank City, Touko and N head to Nimbasa City to resume their journey.
It takes them a few hours to travel across Route 4 due to Touko taking in all of the construction work. What was once a desolate desert with only half a road connecting Nimbasa City and Castelia City has now merged into a boulevard lined with apartments sporting checkered rooftops and small, integrated parks. While there are some buildings closer to the Desert Resort that are not entirely done and obvious patches of desert left alone, Route 4 has undoubtedly been converted into a suburban oasis.
It even comes complete with a huge shopping mall at the end of the route.
Touko didn't get the chance to check out Join Avenue when she was in Nimbasa City, but now that she's here, she can't help but marvel at all of the expensive-looking shops that are neatly spread before her.
"Woah, look at all of the stalls! Is that a raffle shop?! Alright, I'm going to test my luck! Come on, N!"
The green-haired trainer warmly smiles as he slowly walks to the booth and joins the line with Touko. "Any particular item you're looking for?"
Touko leans to the side, peering into the shop for its wares. "Hmm...maybe a Max Revive?"
He nods, "That's a good choice. They'll be good for emergencies."
"I hope you get something good, too. Nothing feels better than experiencing a lucky pull."
The shopkeeper calls for Touko to step forward and explains how the raffle works. There is a set of numbers related to each prize, and if she draws a number within an item's range, she wins that item.
Plunging her hand into the box containing folded pieces of paper, Touko aggressively mixes its contents until she pulls out a slip. She unfolds the paper, revealing the number 39.
Moments later, she's holding a berry juice, while N unwraps the rare candy he had won and hands it to Zoroark.
"Guess my luck today sucks…" Touko mumbles to herself as she slumps in defeat.
"We've only just arrived in Nimbasa City, Touko. It's a bit too early to feel down, don't you think?" N attempts to cheer her up, "There are still so many attractions to look forward to."
"Like the Ferris Wheel?" she says, an all-knowing smile quickly replacing her bad mood. N's eyes widen for a fraction of a second.
"Only if you want to."
"Then, let's save that for last. The view at night is much better than in the day."
"Yes, it is. So, where to next?"
The Battle Subway, located at Gear Station in Nimbasa City, is more than a subway network that weaves its vein-like tracks through the underground tunnels of Unova. It is also a place where trainers clash, fueled by the rush of a train accelerating deeper and deeper into the endless darkness. All this for the chance to meet and battle the Subway Bosses, Ingo and Emmet, two of the strongest trainers in Unova, as well as the ones who maintain the Battle Subway.
In the midst of the rampant howling and muffled explosions, an inconspicuous train pulls into the station. As a hoard of trainers and businessmen disembarks onto the platform, a brown-haired male trainer, dressed in a blue jacket with a broken zipper, gray pants, and red shoes, grips the rim of his red cap. A blue bag with a black strap hangs by his side. He adjusts the bulky, white bracelet on his left wrist before turning on the blue Xtransceiver on his right wrist.
When he next lifts his head, he spots another brown-haired male trainer waving at him. His hair color is darker, and instead of a red hat, he sports a red visor. He's also wearing a blue jacket, but it's in a darker shade, and it's unzipped from the top, revealing the black and aqua wetsuit underneath. Covering the rest of the wetsuit is a pair of white beach shorts. Red water shoes protect his feet. A red Xtransceiver is strapped to his left wrist. His right hand is clasping the strap of his white, rectangular bag.
"Welcome back to Unova, Touya," he greets as he stops waving.
"Thanks, Kyouhei. It's good to be back," Touya answers back. They share a quick high-five.
"So, how was the rest of your time in Alola?"
"Pretty chill. I mostly went sightseeing."
Kyouhei eyes the white bracelet on Touya's wrist. "I see you finished the rest of the trials."
"Yeah. I don't know if I'm able to use this here, though."
"Definitely not in the Battle Subway. The trains here probably won't be able to handle that kind of power."
"I thought so. Hey, do you mind if I walk around the station a bit? I kinda want to see if there's anything different."
"Sure. I would join you, but I have to go meet up with Mei soon. I can't wait to tell her about my first case."
"Ah, that girl you keep talking about. Are you sure you're just her friend?"
Kyouhei looks away with a boyish pout. "Of course she's just my friend. She's way out of my league."
Touya chuckles and then waves his friend goodbye as the visor-wearing trainer climbs up the stairs towards the exit. When he isn't able to see Kyouhei anymore, he mumbles to himself, "I wonder how Touko is doing…"
After a short shopping spree, in which she bought some souvenirs for her friends and her mom, Touko and N step foot into Nimbasa City. The moment they do, someone pats both of them on their backs. Touko predictably tenses and reaches for a Poké Ball in her pocket, while N calmly turns around to find Mei slightly hunched over, trying to catch her breath.
"I-I finally...caught up to...you guys," the trainer from Aspertia City heaves out.
"Please don't sneak up on me," Touko scolds, "I almost released Ritsu on you."
"Haha...sorry. I actually wanted to meet up with you before you got to Join Avenue, but it took me a while to clear up stuff at the studio."
"Huh? Is there something in Join Avenue you wanted to show us?"
Mei smugly grins, "Well, since I own the place, I wanted to give my friends a VIP tour of everything that it offered."
"No way," Touko balks. She then turns to N and asks, "Did you know about this?"
"She might have mentioned it once," he slowly replies.
"Impressive. A former champion, a rising movie star, and now the owner of a successful shopping district. Just how large is her influence in this region?"
"And she managed to achieve all that in about a year. She's practically a celebrity."
"So, what did you think?" Mei questions, still grinning at them with that haughty smile.
"The shopkeepers were very nice and helpful. Oh, I did buy something for you, but now that I know that you own Join Avenue…"
"You can still give it to me but maybe not right now. I gotta meet up with Kyouhei for our weekly tear through the Battle Subway."
"The Battle Subway...huh…?" Touko's mood drops slightly, "I used to have a Battle Subway partner, too. I wonder how he's doing…"
Mei grabs Touko's hand and begins to drag her towards the large, stately building that is much too pristine to be a subway station. With its emerald-colored roof, red banners displaying golden Poke Balls, gray balconies, and Tuscan pillars, the Battle Subway exudes an elegance uncharacteristic of its true nature.
"Maybe he's still hanging around here. But if he isn't, then you and N should take on the Battle Subway together!"
Touko incoherently sputters at the suggestion. The image of N holding on a handrail while trying to keep his balance on top of giving orders to his Pokémon is more than she can handle.
"T-There's no way he'll be okay with that…"
"I don't mind," N says almost immediately, "It'll be a good way to determine our compatibility. Whether we clash or work well together...it's a formula I'm eager to figure out."
"E-EHHHHH?!"
"Hoh. What an interesting development."
"How about it, Touko?" Mei continues to insist.
"Well, if he doesn't mind…" Touko turns to N, who gives her an affirmative nod. "Alright, I'm in. The trainers down there won't stand a chance!"
"Yes, I'll give it my all."
The three of them approach the entrance to the Battle Subway. While there are many people heading in and out of the place, one male trainer is leaning against one of the pillars. Upon seeing him, Mei sports a wide grin.
"Kyouhei!"
Said person pushes himself off of the pillar and heads down the stairs to join them. "Hey Mei! Guess what? I-!"
Mei puts her hand up to stop him. "Hold that thought, mister. Let me introduce you to my friends. This is Touko and N."
A look of fascination crosses Kyouhei's face. "You mean the two heroes of Unova?!"
Touko nervously chuckles. Mei's friend stretches his hand out, and both she and N shake it. When N extends his hand, he does so with slight hesitation.
"Hero…?" the green-haired trainer softly questions.
"Yeah," Kyouhei reassures, "To the people of this region, you are a hero. Unless there's something else you want to be known as?"
His words seize Touko, making her mind reel. "Why would he say it like that? Does he know who N really is?"
"Judging from what we have seen on our journey so far, not many know of N's former affiliation with Team Plasma. In fact, I have noticed that they do not know much about Team Plasma's original goal."
"They did hold those rallies to hide Ghetsis's true intent in the form of a well-meaning goal. But you're right. The entire southern part of Unova barely brings up Team Plasma, even though they had been doing horrible things like hurting wild Pokémon and stealing stuff in that area. Is it the same for other parts of Unova?"
"I cannot say for sure. While we are on the topic, it seems that the people also do not know who exactly you are. At best, they know you were a former champion. Perhaps...those involved with the incident with Team Plasma had intentionally kept the whole truth away from the public in order to give both you and N freedom."
"...The International Police probably helped with that. They've made it so that N wasn't exposed as the puppet king of a hypocritical organization. But...what do they gain from withholding this information from the people?"
"I fear we might not get the answer to that for a while. For now, we need to help N."
Touko snaps back to the present and sees N with tightly closed lips. When she faces Kyouhei, he has a grin that matches his intrigue.
"We may be the heroes of Unova, but right now, we're just two regular trainers traveling the region together. Right, N?" Touko explains. The green-haired man, unable to hide his astonishment, stares at her for several seconds before adjusting the hat on his head.
"Yes, that's right. We would prefer if you treat us as such," he answers back.
Kyouhei crosses his arms. With a nod, he says, "I understand. But if you two don't mind, I would like to ask for your help. You see, I'm more than this girl's Battle Subway partner," he nudges Mei, who shoves him back with the same amount of force and rolls her eyes, "I'm an intern at Interpol under Looker's supervision. You have probably met him before."
Touko tips her hat down. "Yes…I have."
"The truth is that Looker has assigned me a case, and I may need more assistance than I am given. What I'm about to share with you is classified information, but I want the two of you to listen to what I have to say." The casual tone that Kyouhei was using vanishes. The change in his voice is like a switch, switching from silly and awestruck to grave and humorless.
"There have been reports of strange events happening in the southern regions of Unova. Pokéstar Studios, Nuvema Town, Accumula Town, and Nacrene City all recently suffered heavy damage. Signs of disturbances are scattered throughout the area, but no concrete evidence of the culprit has been found. They even left a mysterious engraving in Accumula Town, but we still do not have a clue as to what it means. Do you two perhaps have any information about this string of disasters?"
Touko's head is tipped even further down, so that the people around her, if they are to face her, can only see N's monochrome hat. N, on the other hand, is meeting Kyouhei's frown with his own. Their silence drives the intern to press further.
"Of course, if you don't know anything, then we'll move on. But, if you have some sort of lead, I would like you to share it with me. I don't know what motive would lead someone to cause this much property damage, but people's lives are being endangered."
"Kyouhei, have you questioned anyone about this yet?" Mei joins in.
"I have, but their testimonies are hard to believe. Though there haven't been any contradictions, I just can't make sense of what they're saying. The incident in Nacrene City is a prime example. A golden ghost train defeated a massive shadowy figure by shooting fire at it? They must have mistaken what they saw that night."
"That...really happened," N says, his voice soft, "Touko and I were the ones to defeat that mysterious specter."
"What?" Kyouhei's incredulous response comes after several seconds of stunned silence, "Is this true?! Then, do you know what this specter is?"
The former king shakes his head. "I'm afraid we're just in the dark as you."
Kyouhei irritatedly huffs. "I'll have to add this to my notes. How about you, Touko? Is there anything you can add?"
The heroine doesn't lift her head. She stays planted in place, clutching her pink bag with a strenuous grip. Mei calls out to her, but it's as if she can't register her voice.
"What do I do? What do I do?! T-The International Police is involved now! They're going to arrest me if I tell them the truth! I can't fight the Shadow Triad if that happens! But I can't just stay silent!"
"Touko, calm down. It is true that we have agreed to withdraw the truth of the situation until we figure out the Shadow Triad's motive. Indeed, we do not know much about the situation. It is a truth we can use."
"I-I see what you're trying to say. B-But…"
"Whatever your choice is, my heroine, I will follow you. I have vowed as much."
N observes Touko's state as Mei prods her. Standing next to her allows him to see how deeply Touko's teeth are digging into her lips. If she puts any more pressure, she just might bite her lip off.
"She is hesitant to share what we have experienced on our journey. There must be a reason why," N tries to rationalize, "Wait, could it be…?!"
He faces Kyouhei again. "The case that Looker was assigned to when he was in Unova was to arrest the Seven Sages and bring them in for questioning regarding Team Plasma. I've heard that Touko had lent her assistance."
"Yes, what of it?"
"In the end, when she tracked down the last sage, she was given a tip from Looker that she decided to investigate. However, she has recently found out that the credibility of the information she had received was shaky. Because of this, she is now skeptical of the International Police and their capabilities."
His words immediately draw Touko's head back up. She gaps at him, her mouth unable to close properly. "N…"
"I...did not know that," Kyouhei replies, "The International Police prides themselves on resolving cases too complicated for regular police forces. Gathering information is their specialty. For such a thing to happen...on the behalf of Interpol, I would like to apologize for our blunder."
He bows to Touko. She breathes out and feels the panic disappear from her body. "Please raise your head. It's true that Looker gave me such a vague tip, but I chose to trust it. The blame isn't solely on him."
The intern lifts his head and adjusts his visor. "I want you to be able to rely on the International Police. Is there any way to regain your trust?"
"I'm not even sure what the answer to that is…" Touko internally admits. What can be done other than to continue their work and make sure that such a mistake doesn't happen again?
"Touko, if I may. Even though he does not know much now, his connections and authority can help us deduce how the Shadow Triad is planning to bring back Ghetsis. We can direct what he finds to Cheren, Bianca, Alder, and your mother while we continue to protect N."
"Reshiram, you're a genius! If he's able to figure out their methods, then we can tell him our side of the story and gain a powerful ally! We'll have him expose the mechanisms that those ninjas are using to turn people into Kugekis! And maybe he'll discover something that we don't know along the way!"
"If he is able to arrive at the truth that we hold, then it will surely resolve the issue of trust between us and the International Police."
"Actually, there is something you can do," Touko answers, "N and I actually are troubled by the giant specter that we fought in Nacrene City. It was no ordinary Pokémon; we don't even know if it was a Pokémon. But even after defeating it, there are still reports of heavy damage within the nearby areas. There might be more of those specters hiding out there."
Kyouhei raises an eyebrow. "So, you want me to find these specters and deal with them accordingly?"
"No, I want to know what they are. If they are Pokémon, then we can take them down with a Pokémon battle. But if they're not, then we have to come up with a different way to defeat them. The specter we faced was, fortunately, able to be taken down by a Pokémon, but we might not be so lucky the next time we encounter one."
The intern considers his choices for several seconds. As he ruminates on whether to accept Touko's offer, Mei gives her input, "It's true that there is something weird going on, but I don't think you should go investigate this on your own, Kyouhei. What if you run into a situation that you can't get out of?"
"Then, how about you help me?" he suggests, shooting the actress a cheeky grin. She pouts in response.
"You know how busy I am! It's not easy being me!"
"It must be tough being Unova's poster girl."
"You got that right! Wait-!"
Before Mei can deny what Kyouhei had called her, the intern turns back to Touko. "Okay, I will do as you say. If I figure out what's behind these incidents, you will lend me your assistance. It's a deal. Can you two give me your Xtransceiver numbers?"
"Of course," Touko says. After registering both N and Touko on his Xtransceiver, Kyouhei grabs Mei's hand, intending to drag the now flabbergasted girl into the station.
"Please don't hesitate to contact me if you've found any new leads. Come on, Mei! Today is the day we defeat the Battle Subway bosses!"
"W-Wait, Kyouhei! What did you just call me?!"
"I don't know. What did I say?" he smugly replies back.
They disappear into the building. Touko and N both stare at the entrance for a few seconds before they let out a heavy sigh at the same time. When they realize that their coordination was coincidentally in sync, they look at each other in astonishment and then erupt into a fit of chuckles.
"That…" N starts.
"Yeah…" Touko finishes.
Once their laughter dies down, Touko takes a step towards the Battle Subway. "Thanks, N, for stepping in."
A sense of accomplishment swells within N. "I only helped my friend when she was troubled. While I did want to cooperate with him, I also understand why that might be difficult for you. We are on this journey together, and I'll be with you until the end."
Touko immediately covers her mouth before she can let out a noise that would draw heads. It doesn't stop her from internally screaming.
"D-D-Does he know how embarrassing his words are?! L-Leave it to N to say the most unexpected things like small talk! But..." Her internal self cups her own cheeks, "I wouldn't mind if he says that to me again."
N watches how she recoils, her face a mixture of shock and something else he has trouble describing. He surmises that she's not angry at him, but she seems to be holding herself back.
"Are you alright, Touko?"
"U-Umm, yeah! N-Never better! Ah, let's go inside! C-Can't let Mei and Kyouhei leave us behind."
She dashes past him, carefully hiding her face. Of course, since she was in a rush to enter the station, she doesn't pay attention to where she's going. Touko doesn't get to see the flight of stairs that leads to the underground subway station. Instead, she bumps into someone, and that someone grunts at the unexpected collision. Thankfully, they stay upright instead of tumbling down the stairs.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I wasn't watching whe-!"
"Touko?"
She recognizes that voice. It is considerably deeper than she remembers, but his calm tone that can easily be mistaken for shyness is still there. N is quick to join her side, and upon seeing the stranger she has crashed into, he can't help but notice how similar he is to Kyouhei.
"Tou...ya…" she gasps.
Touko's Battle Subway partner recovers from the shock faster than she can. Shifting his hat so that it comfortably sits on his head again, Touya gives a pleasant grin. "It's great to see you again. Are you free to take on the Battle Subway and catch...up…"
With wide eyes, he trails off as he notices the green-haired man standing beside Touko. His vision distorts, beginning a cycle of splitting N in two and willing him back into one entity. Touya can't see N's face anymore, only the visage of him spreading his arms out. The blinding sun transforms into a creature of unfathomable power that stands behind its master. Looking up at N only makes him more intimidating.
And he can feel something inside telling him, "Now is the time. For my friends. This world. Precious. Protect." However, he doesn't understand what those words mean or why they're trying to stake a claim onto his soul.
Upon seeing Touya quaking with apprehension, Touko grabs his wrist and leads him down into the Battle Subway. N tries to follow, but she turns around, staring at him with a deeply concerned frown.
"N, I'll be right back. I have to help him."
He wants to ask if he did something wrong. But he hasn't done anything. N has never heard or seen this person before. Touko doesn't blame him for looking as panicked as he does.
"It's okay," she reassures N, "I know what he's going through. Your presence has triggered something within him, and he's now...out of it, you could say."
With her words, N is starting to realize that if he keeps Touko any longer, the boy next to her will continue to suffer.
"I'll call you when I'm done talking to him."
"Don't worry about me," N states as clearly as he can, "He is your friend. You should be by his side."
Touko doesn't hesitate to nod. She drags Touya down the stairs towards the underground station. N heads back towards the entrance as his face twists into a pained frown.
Touya and Touko find a seat on a cold metal bench next to the Multi-Battle subway stop. They both open the soda pops that Touko had just bought and take one long sip.
The station is as busy as ever. While the terminal itself is rather empty, they can hear the subways screeching as they haul away the sounds of battle. The volume swings like a seesaw. One moment, it nearly deafens them, tempting them to join in the cacophony. The next, it's unsettlingly quiet.
They sit there for several cycles. Touko finishes half of her can. Touya barely takes another sip.
"...You've remembered something just now, didn't you?" the heroine more states than asks. Touya slowly nods.
"What did you see?"
"I...I saw that guy with his arms stretched out and an overwhelming presence behind him. He had a smile that I had to crush. That was N, right? The guy you were looking for?"
"...That's right."
Touya tests the name again with his own voice, and the unfamiliar, nauseating sensation returns. N's name rolls out of his mouth as if he was admonishing him. He can't think of any other way to say his name.
"So you've met both N and me in the past…" Touko mumbles to herself, "But when…? How did we meet…?"
Both of them lower their heads. Touya lifts his can as if to take another sip, but he decides not to and places it back onto his lap.
"We...have never met before," he finally says.
His response understandably confuses her. "What do you mean?"
"The Touko in my memories is not you. I know a different Touko."
He might as well have spoken a different language. "Touya, you're not making any sense. There's only one of me," she asserts.
He finally faces her and lets out a sigh. "I'm not from this dimension. I come from a different Unova."
Touya expects her to immediately reject the notion. For a person who has only known of one reality, that kind of revelation should not settle in easily. Her reactions thus far are proof of that.
But she doesn't look as if the world has disappeared under her feet. Instead, with a soft whisper, she asks, "How are you so sure?"
"It's a long story."
"I have time. Ah, well, I did have plans with N, but we can do them tomorrow. It's not like we're in a big rush or anything."
Touya keeps his tiny grin to himself. "Don't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. It's considered classified information, but I got permission to tell you if I ever bump into you again." When Touko gives him an affirmative nod, he leans back against the wall.
"When you left Unova, I decided that I had to learn more about myself. I wanted to fill the gaping hole in my memories. Who was I? Who was I trying to become? I wanted the answers to those questions. That's when I met Kyouhei."
"You mean the International Police intern?"
"Yeah," he doesn't question how she knows him, "Though, at the time, he wasn't hired yet. He agreed to help me and used his connections to have someone look into me. The first thing that they learned was that there are no records of me anywhere in their databases."
"What…?"
"No matter where they looked, they couldn't find anything. And that got them interested. A few weeks after Kyouhei brought up my case, he was accepted as an intern, and he introduced me to Looker, the person he was working under. With him, we spent a few years trying to find a way to restore my memories and figure out why they don't have any information about me. Eventually, we found a lead. Someone within the International Police named Anabel also forgot who she was."
"Wait, isn't Anabel the one who runs the Battle Tower in the Battle Frontier?!"
"She used to. Ten years ago, the International Police found her on a beach in Alola all of a sudden. She couldn't remember anything other than her name and that she was a powerful trainer from Hoenn who had protected a tower there. They took her in and eventually discovered that she was coated with a large amount of Ultra Wormhole energy."
"What's Ultra Wormhole energy?"
Touya rotates his can once. "It's energy that comes from portals leading from our world to Ultra Space. Ultra Space is a realm that exists between our world and other dimensions. You could say that the relationship between Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Space is like service roads that lead to one massive highway."
"Okay...I think I understood that."
"When you travel into an Ultra Wormhole, you become engulfed with this mysterious energy they call Ultra Wormhole energy. The International Police call these people Fallers. Unfortunately, being a Faller makes you a target for Ultra Beasts."
"Ultra Beasts," Touko tests the unfamiliar terms and squints at the sound of them, "Is that a different kind of Pokémon?"
"Not quite. Ultra Beasts are creatures that live in different worlds that are linked to Ultra Space. They can enter Ultra Wormholes without suffering any consequences, but they can't open one themselves. Because the frequency between the wormholes and the energy that Fallers emits is the same, the Ultra Beasts chase after Fallers under the impression that they are returning home. They are dangerous to anyone who has never encountered one before."
"Wait…" Touko says after absorbing everything that Touya has explained so far, "Are you saying that you're the same as Anabel?"
"Yes," he confirms, "Just when we were running out of ideas, Looker was assigned to the UB Task Force and had to relocate to Alola. That's when he met Anabel again. Once he remembered that Anabel had also lost her memories, he invited me to join him on his mission. He thought that maybe we were in the same situation. And it turned out that he was right. I was targeted by several different Ultra Beasts during the course of the incident. Once the UB Task Force had finished their business in Alola, Looker returned to my case, and with the information that he had, realized that I must have come from another world."
"W-What…? Touya...is a Faller who came to our world from his using this Ultra Wormhole? Y-You've gotta be kidding me..."
"It would appear so. It is the most logical explanation given the clues they had found."
Touya grips his soda can harshly. "I searched for my memories because I wanted to know where I belonged. I didn't remember anything: my friends, my parents, my hometown, how I got my Pokémon. The loneliness that I've felt over the past three years was overwhelming. I thought that maybe I wasn't meant to exist."
"Touya…"
He drinks the rest of his soda. His Battle Subway partner is understandably silent, but he can sense her gaze bearing down on him. He doesn't blame her for being unable to respond. He had reacted in the exact same way.
"In a twisted way, my fears came true. I really wasn't meant to belong here in this world."
"And...you're okay with that?"
He leans backs and closes his eyes. "I'm not sure if I am or if I'm not. I'm still trying to grasp it all."
"Do you think it's possible for you to go back to your Unova?"
Touya turns his head away, serving as his answer. Touko frowns with him, not knowing what to say.
"What are you going to do now?" she eventually asks.
Touya mulls over her question in a silence that was far from comfortable.
"I'm going to continue looking for a way to recover my memories," he resolves, "Even though I know where I originally came from now, I still don't remember what that world is like. Until I recover all of my past, I can't see myself moving forward."
A chorus of wheels shrieking to a halt blares from behind them. Another subway has returned from Unova's underground depths.
"Hey, Touya. Let's take on the Battle Subway."
"Huh?" Her suggestion catches him by surprise.
"I can tell you've been thinking about this for a while. Right now, you need a distraction, and the best distraction is having a serious Pokémon battle."
Touya stares at her, baffled, as she stands up and shoots her soda can into the recycling bin. He then chuckles and also tosses his can away. "You haven't changed a bit, Touko."
"I'll take that as a compliment," she says, whipping out two Poké Balls from her bag. "I can't say I understand what's going through your mind right now, but I know that if you think about heavy things for too long, you'll lose sight of what's around you."
Touya digs into his bag and also pulls out two Poké Balls. "You have a point there. Alright, I'm in. The usual combo?"
"You bet! Let's see if we can make it to the subway bosses again!"
N makes his way to the amusement park. A giant inflatable Pikachu and Pichu greet the city's visitors. A musician is leisurely performing for pocket change, while one of his alleged fangirls orbits around him. As N treads on the tiled path, he passes by the indoor rollercoaster, which is still collecting screams of mad delight from daring trainers. As loud as those trainers' cries are, they don't captivate him enough to enter the building and join them. Instead, he raises his head to marvel at the Ferris Wheel. Compared to the neon lights and bright colors of every other attraction, the Ferris Wheel bares its steel frame unabashedly. It slides in between a short, unimpressive structure like a circular saw cutting through wood.
A wave of emotions pulls N into his thoughts as he watches the Ferris Wheel's stationary cycle. Despite siding with Touko on the extent of their cooperation with the International Police, his heart wants to do more than just wait for answers. He and Touko have seen something truly sickening. Someone is fusing people and Pokémon together. He cannot forgive whoever is behind this.
"The bonds between people and Pokémon come in many forms. They can create memories that are invaluable and bring happiness to both, but that also means that they can create memories of hardships and regrets. No one wants to show those hateful memories because they don't want to release the pain associated with them to the world. It's true that I once saw the bonds between people and Pokémon as something that must be destroyed for the sake of erasing Pokémon suffering. But I've learned that I should not assume that all Pokémon suffer as a result of being with a human. That's why I cannot let them get away with this. I can't let them force their opinion onto others. I can't let them make the same mistake I did."
He doesn't know how long he has stared at the Ferris Wheel. His mind shifts away from the International Police to the boy Touko had walked away with.
"Touya...just who is he? I'm aware that he is Touko's friend, but I sense something more than that. And...the way he was looking at me…have I met him before? No, that shouldn't be possible. I would remember someone like him, especially if he knows Touko…"
"Usually, people come to the amusement park to forget about their troubles, not fall deeper into them," a female voice speaks to N. He turns to the direction it came from and then has to slightly glance up.
"Elesa," he monotonously greets.
Nimbasa City's gym leader is alone, which is odd considering that she's a well-known model in the region and is usually not seen without a horde of female beauties behind her. She has forgone the fluffy yellow coat that she is normally wearing, leaving her in just a yellow and blue top with matching shorts.
"I was wondering what happened to you. You have been dutifully waiting at this Ferris Wheel every Friday for the past year or so. But then, I've heard from the other gym leaders that Touko has returned. Apparently, you two are on a journey together?"
"Yes, that's correct. I'm grateful that you did not chase me out of the city whenever I came to visit."
"It would be in poor taste if I did that. Everyone is welcome here, and if issues arise, it's my job as gym leader to resolve them. So, where is Touko?"
"She's...currently attending a friend right now. I'm just waiting for her."
Elesa doesn't seem happy with his answer. "That's a shame. I've wanted to see what kind of light lies within her heart now. The last time we talked, the spark she had was almost extinguished."
He doesn't understand what she's saying. "Extinguished…?"
"Well, not exactly extinguished. It was flickering. I wonder what makes her heart shine now?"
N glances up, peering at the sun. Yes, the kind of spark that surrounds Touko's heart is…warm, inviting, yet unwavering in its intensity.
If that's the case, then why is it swaying back and forth?
N topples over as he loses his balance. The ground trembles beneath him, shaking in disagreement at his assessment of Touko's spark. People are screaming as they huddle away from the attractions and drop to the floor like a swarm of bug Pokémon. N's heart speeds up at the same rate as the earthquake's intensity.
"Elesa, this earthquake isn't from the Battle Subway, right?"
"T-That should be the case. Ingo and Emmet have created the Battle Subway in a way that could contain the intensity of Pokémon battles. It shouldn't be felt on the surface."
N swings his head around, trying to find anyone or anything that can be the cause of the earthquake. He hears something above him swaying, teetering on the edge of escaping.
"O-Oh no!" To Elesa, he screams, "We have to leave now! We have to move everyone away from here!"
She must have heard the same thing he did. Shakily getting on her knees, she begins to urge the crowd to crawl to the exit of the amusement park. N steadies himself, moving into a squatting position, and turns around, watching in horror as the beams rooting the Ferris Wheel to its loading area begin to bend. The carts sway violently, and N can see that some of them have passengers trapped within them.
He pulls out a Poke Ball from his pocket. "Vanilluxe, my friend. Please help me."
The Snowstorm Pokémon greets his trainer with a wave from his tiny icicle hands. When he realizes that N did not release him just to enjoy the weather, he follows N's gaze to the unstable Ferris Wheel.
"Use Blizzard on the supports. We can't let the Ferris Wheel move from this spot."
From his two mouths and straw-shaped icicle, Vanilluxe spews forth an icy storm that engulfs the beams, freezing them in place, but the frantic shaking only wedges cracks into the frozen glue. The blizzard coats the amusement park in a sea of chilly mist. N's Pokémon continues to apply ice onto the supports, but N knows that Vanilluxe can't keep it up for long.
"N!" Right before the green-haired trainer can dwell back into his thoughts, trying to find a way to save the passengers, his name is called. Peeking over his left shoulder, N sees Kyouhei and Touya crawling towards him.
"How come you haven't evacuated with the others?" the Interpol intern interrogates.
"I had to do something to keep the Ferris Wheel from rolling away," N explains, slightly peeved that Kyouhei can't read the situation. "There are people trapped inside. I can't abandon them. Where's Touko and Mei?"
"Mei went to investigate the source of the earthquake. She believes that a Pokémon is causing this," Kyouhei answers as he shakes his head. He most likely had disapproved of Mei's decision but couldn't do anything to stop her.
"It's the same with Touko," Touya adds, "She told me to leave the Battle Subway and find someplace safe until the earthquake stops."
N lets out a curt sigh. "Touko and Mei can take care of themselves. They have Reshiram and Zekrom with them," he drills into his head. As worried as he is, he has to focus on the task at hand. Touya adjusts his cap as he watches N's Vanilluxe run out of stamina. "I have a way to stabilize it. Kyouhei, permission to use my Z-Ring."
N raises an eyebrow at this strange request. Just what is a Z-Ring? And why does Touya need permission to use it?
The ground, having been softened up by the earthquake, is starting to collapse around them. Cracks, stretching from the entrance of the amusement park, inch their way towards the three male trainers. N commands Vanilluxe to cover the fissures with yet another Blizzard.
The icy mist around them thickens.
"Permission granted, Touya," Kyouhei frantically says as he grabs a great ball from his bag, "Sigilyph, standby and get ready to rescue the civilians."
An avian-looking Pokémon similar to a flying totem materializes next to Kyouhei. While her wings and tail are adorned with layers of red, blue, and yellow, her head, pitchfork-like arms, and body are mostly black and green. Across her belly is a pair of eyes identical to the one on her head.
Touya clasps two Poké Balls in his hands and sends out two Pokémon of his own. One of them is an Escavalier, a bug-type Pokémon with the form of a jousting knight. He has a helmet with a horsehair crest and javelins for arms. Steel encases the Escavalier's lower body and shoulders. The other is a Braviary, a great avian with a plumage consisting of maroon, obsidian, and ash white feathers. The Valiant Pokémon spreads his large wings and joins Kyouhei's Sigilyph, awaiting commands from his trainer. Touya then pulls out a lime-green crystal and sets it on the white bracelet resting on his left wrist.
"Escavalier, we only need to bind the Ferris Wheel. Braviary, help Sigilyph once Kyouhei gives the signal."
By now, the intensity of the tremors has decreased to the point where they can stand up. Touya brings his arms to his chest in a blocking position. The crystal on his Z-Ring bursts to life, emitting a glow that shines like a beacon flashing on a foggy morning. He swings his arms down before stretching them out and crossing them in front of him. His hands become a pair of pincers as he circles his arms around, letting his hands linger over his head for a second. Touya then snaps his left arm to the side, bending his wrist so that his left pincer is facing upwards, while he swipes his right pincer upwards. After striking this bizarre pose, a gold aura leaps from Touya onto his Escavalier.
"W-What is this?" N awes at the massive amount of power flowing from both trainer and Pokémon.
"This is a Z-move," Kyouhei explains, "It takes the bonds of both people and Pokémon and combines them into a powerful attack."
Escavalier bangs his javelin-like arms together and concentrates the energy surrounding him, manifesting it into a sphere. From that orb, the Cavalry Pokémon sprays a spread of sticky silk onto the Ferris Wheel. The web wraps around the main body of the ride, careful to not encase the carts, and then attaches itself onto the structure the beams are ingrained into. The Ferris Wheel stops teetering, now only shaking in time with the tremors.
"Nice work, Touya! Sigilyph, use Psychic to open the carts and bring the passengers down to the ground!" Kyouhei orders. As the psychic-type flies to the nearest cart, she surrounds herself with blue energy. The same aura latches onto the door of the cart and makes it swing open. Sigilyph then picks up the cowering couple with her psychic powers and gently transports them to the ground. Braviary, on the other hand, uses his claws to swipe against the door of another cart. As the pair inside shrink away from the now-destroyed door, the Valiant Pokémon offers his back to them, urging them to hop on with a short caw.
As Kyouhei directs the rescuees to the exit of the amusement park, N stares at the band on Touya's left wrist. The amnesiac notices that he's being watched and shies away from N's gaze.
"Where...did you get that kind of power?" N asks. Touya slowly turns to face him, but his gaze settles on the necklace pressed against N's chest.
"Alola. They have these trials called the island challenge that can grant a trainer the power to use Z-moves."
Escavalier hovers to Touya's side and clangs his arms together. N chuckles and says, "Your Pokémon...just now, it was saying how it has never used that power in such a way before. Escavalier is quite proud of saving those people."
Touya's mouth hangs open as N's words loop in his mind. He isn't shocked that N is able to understand Pokémon. Rather, he's stunned at how such a fact feels so ingrained within him like a brand etched into his soul.
Touya boyishly grins and pats Escavalier on the head. "I'm proud of him, too. I'm proud of all of my Pokémon."
N returns his smile. "That's good to hear."
"Hey, what are you guys doing?!" Kyouhei calls from the entrance of the amusement park, "Stop building your bromance in the middle of a danger zone! This way!"
"Kyouhei, it's not like that!" Touya snaps back as he catches up with the intern, "Don't tell me you're jealous!"
"I'm just doing my job! You're the one staring into his eyes!"
N tilts his head, not understanding what a "bromance" is. He'll have to ask Touko or Mei later when he reconvenes with them. Right now, he has to get out of here-!
The ear-piercing screech of metal creaking drawls within N's ears. With a cold sweat, he turns around and sees that the Ferris Wheel has been released from its sticky prison, floating in the air by some dark aura. It hovers for only a moment before it is unceremoniously dropped. An explosion detonates right underneath the large structure and, like a thumb flicking a toy car, sends the Ferris Wheel rolling towards him.
With panic clouding his heart, N orders, "Vanilluxe, Blizzard!" The Snowstorm Pokémon summons yet another whiteout that completely floods the amusement park in a dense fog. N can't see anything except for Vanilluxe, but he can still hear the Ferris Wheel moving.
"What can I do?! Vanilluxe is giving it his all, but it's still not enough! I can't let it rampage through the city!"
Finally running out of energy, N's Vanilluxe stops the snowstorm and collapses to the ground. As N cradles his friend and praises him for his hard work, a blast of hot air bats against his face. The Ferris Wheel howls in protest as it tries to run over whoever is in the way. The mist swirls around N as he is finally able to see what's in front of him.
His eyes widen, and he wonders if he has somehow been knocked unconscious.
A silhouette of a girl materializes from the fog. She has extremely long hair that reaches the back of her legs. Her wings, which blend in with the mystical setting, flap with effort as she exerts all of her strength to stop the Ferris Wheel. With one final shove, she halts the massive wheel, and another summery gust expels a large portion of the mist.
"No...it can't be…"
The girl freezes up, realizing that the cover she was taking advantage of is mostly gone. She spreads her wings, ready to take off, and N realizes that no matter what, he can't let her go.
Because she's the girl from his dreams.
"Wait!" he calls out to her, "Don't go! I won't hurt you!"
His words manage to root her, but her shoulders remain tense, lifted up as if someone has dumped a bucket of water on her. Her wings fold back to its original position. N resists the urge to step forward and stretch his hand out. He can't scare her away.
Instead, he takes the time to fully absorb every detail of the elusive girl.
Orange hair that rivals the flames on Emboar's neck. A dress so impeccably white that it reminds him of a Swanna's plumage. Petite, feathery wings.
"Who are you...?" N softly asks, his voice light as mist. "Please, let me see you."
After a brief moment of hesitation, the girl turns around. Her azure eyes draw him in, a flame to the moth that is his heart. She responds with the same airy tone. "...Cure...Flare."
Profile: Kyouhei
An intern working at Interpol under Looker's supervision. He first met Mei when she first visited Nimbasa City, and after winning a double battle with her, became her Battle Subway partner. As he pursued his goal of challenging the Battle Subway bosses again, he also became friends with a trainer named Touya. He's friendly and eager to please, ready to help people whenever he can. But some, including Mei, will say that he has a different side to him, one that is more calculating and shrewd than he lets on.
Age: 17
Horoscope: Crustle
Team: Sigilyph, Lucario, Liepard, Accelgor, Emboar, Seismitoad