This time it's more timely! I'll try to get a chapter done each month (meaning you can harass me if I don't do that), though no promises.

A bit of information before reading this: The scenes were Touko's team and her interact are somewhat simultaneously at times – it does end with Ollie's scene at the very end, but they do not follow exact chronological order for once.

Mr-MogiGaming: Thank you for your review! And Mickey Mouse probably fits – I personally am basically incapable of reading different characters with different voices =/ Sadly, N and Touko won't meet up again for some time (not until chapter 20, from what I have planned), though they'll keep texting. Anyway – I hope this chapter holds up to the original Shadow Triad – I really liked that they got a personality in the original story and I plan for them to play an important role later on, too!

Tool little colours (to describe the world)
Chapter 16
Pale bleakness under a pitch-dark sky

.o.O.o.

Six weeks – today had marked the start of the sixth weeks of her journey through Unova. Six weeks filled with adventure and one badge – six weeks that urged her to take on the second gym already, ow that her team had trained and supposedly grown together even stronger.

The way back to Nacrene City was meant to be relaxing. Was meant to be a fun break from training before Touko would ultimately, hopefully, challenge the gym on Saturday a second time. She was cutting close with the time, but she had gained ground on the schedule, being somewhat on course to finish the gym challenge once summer came around again.

It felt good to be on track again. Touko had never doubted her ability to finish the challenge on time, but having endured such a setback right at the start of her journey had been a tad bit disconcerting.

Not anymore though – she was back on track again. Allowed herself to dream even – perhaps, she'd be able to finish early! Touko vividly remembered the story still that had been all over the news two years ago, of a trainer finishing in just nine months. A record for Unova. Iris had shown signs to be a gifted Pokémon trainer since she first had partnered up with her Axew – according to her friends and family at least – and had specialized on Dragon Pokémon during her journey. After another year of training, she took over her grandfather's gym even – which had earned her some accusations of nepotism, though no one really questioned her immense talent when it came to battling.

And Touko wanted to be just like that – of course, she'd rather be a champion, battling only the best of the best, or a traveler like Leaf, but she couldn't help but admire the girl either.

Nine months. She had needed a mere nine months to complete a journey that could take others years. It was meant to be finished within 12 months, sure – but that in itself was a great feat already.

And sure Touko was dreaming, but she was back on track again and, possibly, she'd be able to finish – well, maybe not as fast but...close to it?

She was on track after all.

Though she might just lose her progress again if she didn't find a solution to one, tiny, little problem that had become glaringly obvious all throughout yesterday.

Ollie wasn't talking to her.

Now, obviously, Ollie had never spoken to her before but – Ollie wasn't talking. After their whole excursion, after Touko had gotten a better of a grip on her team – Rockstar seemed to be a tad less misbehaved at least – Ollie was silent as a rock still, tiny arms crossed in front of her shell and eyes glaring angrily at her whenever Touko called her name or asked her to do something.

Perhaps, Touko should have paid more attention to her team those past few days. Maybe she would have noticed how Ollie had already been petulant and unwilling to train most of the day and maybe she would have found herself a little bit less surprised now.

Now as in "Now that Ollie" still wasn't talking to her.

Touko wasn't sure what to do. She had meant this trip to be...relaxing. She had always wanted to travel here – she had been so disappointed when their school trip to Castelia had never led them to the city's outskirts – had hoped the scenery would take some tension off of her and her team, of course. They were in dire need of training and they were in dire need of a scene change as they prepared to take on the second gym.

It should have worked. It was frustrating that it hadn't, but Touko had never been one for giving up and if Ollie wanted to be stubborn – Touko would respond in kind.

Already she was holding up a bag with specialized food she had bought – on a discount, because no one had ever told her just how expensive branded food could be. It was some kind of rice based dish mixed with bulk and other sweet berries.

Bulk berries seemed to be Ollie's favorite and there was no way Touko could have passed up on that offer.

Bowls neatly sat out in a circle on that one picnic blanket her mother had insisted she'd take along, Touko proudly stirred her pot, watching satisfied as bubbles started to blob up which, according to the instructions she had skimmed over, meant everything was done. It smelled great and the texture seemed to not be all too bad either. Touko was quite certain this might just be the best meal she had ever cooked and that had to count for something!

"Guys!", she called, turning around to watch her team, only to be met with – no one.

Right.

Emblitz had been more grumpy than usual and had tried to seemingly run at some point, Wobuff insisted on getting herself in trouble by accident, Rockstar insisted getting into trouble on purpose and Ollie...

Ollie didn't talk. Refused to stay around after a battle and retreated back into the confines of her Pokéball whenever she got the chance.

Touko didn't have the heart to deny her that comfort.

She kept Ollie in her Pokéball longer than anyone else. First off was Wobuff who, despite her never ending curiosity, was the best behaved out of all of them. According to N she had made little to no trouble once he had caught up to her. He'd frowned even and said "she wanted to return", whatever that meant.

Next up was Rockstar. He wasn't much better than Emblitz – though he had improved instead of getting worse – but there was food laying around that should keep him from being too obnoxious. Emblitz was up next and wordlessly snatched up a snack bar from where she had laid them out, not paying her much attention at all.

It was a real picnic. A blanket, a nice outlay, the weather was great too! It wasn't evening just yet and Touko had picked a spot a bit away from the busily traveled main road, sitting in the midst of a field and surrounded by a thick tree line that promised adventure. Really, she had outdone herself. All that was missing were real baked goods and fresh food, but there wasn't much she could do about that while traveling. Fresh food spoiled too easily and she didn't have the resources to throw anything away.

Hopefully Ollie would like this.

With a heavy sigh, Touko took the last Pokéball from her bag, hands trembling as she delicately pressed the button, her eyes widening in anticipation as she watched Ollie materialize.

The Oshawott was scowling once the light faded.

Touko had expected that reaction and took it in strife – one more lunch? dinner? dunch? and they'd be alright again.

They had to be!

Refusing to let her smile die, Touko pushed the bowl in front of Ollie, hoping to entice the Watertype Pokémon enough to let her arms rest at her side, at the very least. And anyway – it looked nice! Much better than her own sandwich!

This would work and they'd be friend again – and look! Ollie was already attentively observing the food and then…!

Then she looked up, unimpressed, before recalling herself once more. Shattering any dreams Touko had previously had of simply – of simply being okay again.

Her smile vanished, her sandwich fell from her hands as her grip loosened, dropping onto the blanket and falling apart in a sad metaphor for what Touko was feeling at the point.

Tears started to prick her eyes and – she wanted to let out a scream.

She just – she didn't understand! Short from bringing Lil back, what could she do?

And she couldn't bring Lil back – she had-she had hardly been able to give up the Pokémon. It had cost her so much determination, Touko refused to let her back. And anyway – Lil deserved better than to be pulled in and out of a team time and time again.

She had made her decision and Ollie – Ollie would simply have to suck it up.

xxx

It was late night when they arrived in Nacrene City and it had been too late for them to still get a place in one of the PokéCenters.

The past two days had flown right past her in boredom – boredom because-because Soft Wave missed trainer. She didn't like to admit it, but she missed trainer. A great deal. But she missed Furball equally as much. And she knew where Furball was, even!

She had grown up in the big house! She knew what happened to the Pokémon given away! And sure – her mom deserved to have Furball, but so did she!

Furball had always wanted to be part of a team! She wouldn't have minded staying at the big house with the many Pokémon, but Furball would!

And right after she had evolved a second time just for their stupid trainer!

It wasn't fair.

Maybe she wasn't fair either.

She knew their trainer was sad. She knew it and she knew all this could be offer if she simply stopped being so stubborn, but every time trainer offered her food or something special, Soft Wave felt bad all over again. Because Furball should be right besides her. Furball should be the one she shared tasty food with, Furball should be the one training alongside her, not a stubborn Pansear or an obnoxious Roggenrola or even an overly inquisitive Woobat.

Furball. With all her annoyingly cheerfulness. Everytime trainer gave her something, it felt as if she was trying to buy her happiness and Soft Wave didn't want that. At all.

Maybe she just needed time.

Even if she really, really missed trainer.

.o.O.o.

Roasted Chestnut knew those trees.

He had found himself dumbfounded when he had first realized this simple fact – but he knew those trees. He knew this grass, the ponds, this sky. He remembered it painfully well, the smell, the feel, the sound – he had never thought he'd see it again. His dreams had been plagued by memories of this place and sometimes, he had indulged himself, hoping he might just catch a glimpse of the treetops again, casting long shadows on the grounds of what he used to call home.

Forest.

Humans may have felt a need to give it a name, but he hadn't. This was his place. This was his home, a home he had been so terribly ripped away from.

He was so close, too.

It wasn't often that he was released from the weird place – perhaps it was his own fault. He could hear trainer's words and for all he knew she was nervous around him. Nervous ever since he had attacked Soft Wave and scratched her but he couldn't find it in him to feel sorry.

He didn't want to be here. He shouldn't have to be here, he should be allowed to run back into the forest, where he was free!

Whenever he was let out of the weird place, he cast a hopeful glance at the edge of the woods, his head burning as he desperately hoped to see his mother again. To see her break out of the tree line and to welcome him back home.

At one point, he tried to make a run for it, knowing he was hurting the trainer girl, but it didn't matter – not when he heard her cry out, not when he felt himself sucked back into the weird place.

His mother was out there. He deserved to see her again.

xxx

That trainer girl was trying to talk to stupid puddle. Stupid puddle with her stupid words and her stupid face. And stupid girl was stupid for talking to stupid puddle at all, even though her stupid face wasn't trying to listen to the girl at all.

And it sucked! The food had been nice! And the girl had been happy and then Soft Wave had decided to mess it up all over again!

Things were bad enough as they stood.

He wanted home and most importantly, he did not want the girl's attention, attention that would spring upon him the moment stupid puddle was out of the picture.

Touko looked at the Pokéball in front of her with tears in her eyes and then she turned to face them, him – the rest of her team.

She was trying hard, so, so hard, but somehow, the world refused to let her just be – why was being a trainer this hard? What had she done to deserve this?

Moping, she picked up her discarded sandwich, plucking at the sad lettuce leaves all around her. Put back together, the sandwich looked even more pathetic than it had before and when she glanced at the meal she had prepared for Ollie, new tears sprung to her eyes.

Having lost he appetite for good, Touko watched her team finish their dinner, biting her lip. What should she do know?

Ollie was a lost cause. But time healed all wounds! Surely things would get better if she simply waited it out? Maybe even in tie for her gym battle?

It was hard, blinking those pesky tears away, but she was mature and an adult and she would not let this get her down!

There were more-more urgent matter to deal with!

Food! She had to deal with food! She had made it already and couldn't really carry it around with her, waiting for Ollie to eat it, but she didn't want to throw it away either. She stared at the bowl intensely, watching the moments tick by, until a plan came to her mind. With a heavy sigh, Touko snatched Rockstar's bowl – who screeched the moment his precious food was taken from him – and filled it with a third of Ollie's ration. If she was hungry, Touko could always make something else again, but she desperately wanted to get to a PokéCenter before nightfall – she couldn't afford to wait here for an hour or two until Ollie had stopped being stubborn or hunger drove her to join them.

Luckily, none of her other Pokémon disliked sweet food.

Touko pushed the bowl back to Rockstar who scowled before digging in again and then she continued to split up the meal. Wobuff was next and then it was time for Emblitz.

He was staring out at the forest, ignoring the food placed in front of him. Touko frowned, carefully pulling his bowl to her – though Emlitz didn't seem to care. Most of the time he was defensive of food, but for some reason, it didn't seem to matter to him today.

Or the past few days, really.

She filled his bowl and put it down in front of him, but still, he refused to acknowledge it. In fact, he refused to react at all until she whispered:"Emblitz."

She had expected the stare he'd give her to be deadly. It wasn't though – it was blank instead. A bit sad perhaps, but mostly blank. She pushed the bowl closer and he observed it a few moments, before seemingly forgetting about its existence once more.

Seeing him like this broke Touko's heart and for once, she didn't even know why! She understood why Ollie was mad – she'd never understood why Emblitz disliked her this much.

But she was convinced she could solve this once and for all!

"Emblitz I – it will be okay", she murmured softly, crawling closer, her hand already held in front of her as she made a move to pet his head – but then she retracted it, reconsidering.

She needed to do this right. One wrong move and this moment they had would shatter into a thousand different pieces.

"Trust me", she beckoned him:"We can be friends. And partner and tea mates and – we'll have so much fun, you can't even imagine it!"

They would! Though Emblitz didn't react.

Touko moved closer, hand held out still, carefully etching forward to touch his puffy head.

"I don't know what you are feeling, Emblitz, I can never know but...I care about you. A great deal and I think – I think we can become amazing friends if you just..."

Roasted Chestnut didn't understand what the girl was saying. Her thoughts were wild and too fast to make sense of and she kept smiling at him, saying things he didn't understand and – he heard "friends" and "family" and everything that he wanted.

It was confusing. It was frustrating. It was everything he wanted and when she suddenly moved even closer to him, hehHe scratched her – with a single swipe of his paw he scratched her and for a few moments, the world was frozen in place as Touko's hand turned red, two rashes contrasting her skin.

They locked eyes and-and Emblitz started crying, before he ran, recalling himself, leaving Touko to stare at her hand – it hardly hurt. Emblitz hadn't meant to cut her, but – hadn't they – hadn't they gotten over this? Hadn't they come to – to an understanding at least? Perhaps not friends quite yet, but – but allies? Team mates?

Her hand wasn't bleeding, though the angry red marks might trick any onlooker. Tears sprang into her eyes as she stared at the Pokéball in her hands. Warm – hot, almost – and filled with life and-and anger.

Why? Why was he – what was she doing wrong? Why did she keep failing, why couldn't she just – she wanted to be a good trainer! She tried to be a good trainer! So why did her team hate her?

.o.O.o.

They didn't talk. They never talked – they blended in with the long shadows of the overly lavish room – the young prince might have forgotten about them even, as he sat in midst of a chamber to grand for her tastes. It almost felt as if their prince was lost inside the cavernous castle, yet no one knew for sure. He couldn't talk, their prince, hardly ever made a sound. At first most everyone had believed him to be mute.

He wasn't mute. Ghetsis had taught him a few rudimentary phrases he spew every now and then like a robot programmed to say a greeting every ten seconds.

It was unsettling.

Time passed slowly as they watched the boy. He didn't do much, sitting in that room, his eyes glued to a toy train that he'd been fascinated with ever since Ghetsis had given it to him. Then the toy.

A few tense moments passed as everyone simply stared at the train, neatly split into to two and then...well. He was a boy.

He started crying and it shouldn't have bothered her – she was meant to protect him, not to feel sorry for him – yet she flinched. Perhaps so did her brothers, but she hardly noticed. She didn't like crying children. They were loud and annoying and miserable. Pathetic even. And this was supposed to be their future king?

It was worrying to say the least. Ghetsis had yet to disclose his reasons for specifically choosing this boy over any other heir to his oeuvre. Why such a miserable, pathetic child, hardly able to contain his own trembling?

Still. She couldn't fully drown out an urge to comfort him and she shifted uncomfortably in her position, willing the boy to stop his pathetic cries.

He didn't. It was only when hie caretakers arrived that she allowed herself to breathe again and then she was tasked with reasoning away an almost guilty consciousness she felt at her previous inaction.

The boy had been left to cry for half an hour, almost – but half an hour only.

She was not meant to comfort, to coddle him. Her duty laid with Ghetsis. And when he called, she vanished into the air, leaving a crying boy deserted in his room – he had people to care for him. People that weren't her.

xxx

As their prince grew, they were ordered to watch him from the shadows more regularly. They weren't meant to alert the young prince to their presence though – a task easily accomplished. Feet hardly made a sound and silence had always been their home.

Until the day that he caught them. A mistake by her brother, a small one but enough to alert the boy to their presence.

He turned, stared right at her it seemed – and scowled. Growled. Tried to make himself appear taller than he was – it almost made her smile. And then he talked.

"Stop watching."

None of the shadows answered.

"Stop watching!"

His voice turned to frustration, yet not a single response was given – not as he kept repeating those words, his frustration morphing into anger morphing into hatred.

She never gave in. Her loyalty lay with Ghetsis. She owed her life to the sage, her life, her heart, everything that made her her belonged to him – she'd be dead if he hadn't interfered. Dead and forgotten and as such, she owed him her service as loyal guard.

Nothing would ever change that – no sobbing, no screaming, no begging for a friend that had been taken away.

xxx

The prince grew up – of course he did. The people around him changed and so did he and as time flew by, he became less and less pathetic. Perhaps she had been too quick to judge – he might struggle with anything physical, yet he excelled in his academic studies, much to the castle's delight. Ghetsis had taken it upon himself to teach him more advanced mathematics already and talk was that another sage was to join their ranks to further the young prince's education.

They even learned what made Natural Gropius Harmonia so special.

They founded an organization in his cause – Team Plasma, the very thing Ghetsis had spent so much time working towards. All of it rooted in the liberation of Pokémon – in their prince's fondness of them, in his talent for their tongue.

"Can't you hear them?"

She remembered his whiny voice when he had asked their lord.

"Can't you hear – can't you hear what they are saying?", the young prince asked, begging them to let the Pokémon he had invited inside to stay.

They hadn't.

"Son – your care is greatly appreciated but your time is better spent on your studies – once you become king you'll be able to save all of them – for eternity? Isn't that worth so much more than a few measly hours of trivial delight?"

Their prince had disagreed, seemingly. But he was but a weak child. A weak child, at his father's mercy and his father's words were clear.

"They are a distraction. Take them away."

xxx

Their prince was clutching a Pokémon to his chest. It wasn't the Zorua they had begrudgingly started to tolerate, with its sharp teeth that all too often found its way into the skin of anyone that touched it – no, it was a different kind. A Woobat,

It looked weak and hurt and he had probably taken it in to treat its injuries – which was against protocol.

She knew what were to happen if she spoke up. Ghetsis would be furious – N was not to interact with any Pokémon that hadn't been chosen by them.

"Pokémon fight in wilderness more often than he has been led to believe. It is vital that this is not changed – he must be monitored at any time!"

They were lying to him. They were showing Natural a world that was so very different from the real one – she didn't think it was right. Never had. But Ghetsis was her lord and it was not her place to question him.

With the rustling of her clothing, she announced her presence, stepping out of the shadows, her eyes focused on the Pokémon in his lap.

Had their prince been any younger, he might have screamed, but he had grown and whilst her sudden appearance may have startled him, it was hard to notice for untrained eyes.

He raised his chin in defiance, his gaze meeting hers when she allowed herself to look up. He had grown indeed.

"My lord, your father has ordered you not to interact with any wild Pokémon."

Her words hung in the air like a threat and perhaps Natural might have thought of it as just that – a threat – but it wasn't. There was no threat, it was a simple fact they both knew the consequences of.

"Can't you – can't you turn a blind eye? Just this once?"

He used to stutter much more than that, in fact, he had had quite some trouble picking up language at all. But Ghetsis had taught him well.

"I'm afraid not, my lord."

"I order you!"

The words slipped from his mouth, seemingly unwanted – his own eyes widened in surprise, but then he squared up. He was growing, becoming a lanky and awkward teen but small still, no matter how much he squared his shoulders.

Silently, she sized him up. Ghetsis had put little emphasis on physical education and it showed. A breeze might just trip him over.

"I order you to keep silent! I am your king! You must obey!"

He had guts, she had to admit. His chin was raised ever so slightly and he...tried to keep eye contact. He was trembling even.

Guts, but not much else.

"My lord – my duty lays with sage Ghetsis. I am bound to report this to your father."

xxx

Their future king had grown to be a tyrant.

"I want you to release your Bisharp", he said one day after observing her train.

It wasn't the first time he had seen her train – it wasn't the first time he had seen her train her Bisharp either and never once before had it bothered him.

His right hand was stretched out and he was grinning smugly – though she was hardly impressed.

"I'd rather not, my lord."

"But I ordered you!"

Her lips curled into an amused smile – adorable. The way his eyes shone with stubbornness and his hand started to tremble as he realized his temper tantrum would get him nowhere was adorable, almost.

"My lord, may I suggest you confer with Sage Ghetsis?"

She fell silent once more, turning to meet Bisharp, hacking away at a dummy. She didn't pay much attention to the prince any longer, but she did notice him leaving with a huff – and noticed his return, half an hour later, too.

Ghetsis was following closely behind, the sage's regal steps so much more graceful than their prince's.

They came to a halt in front of her.

"My lord. Sage Ghetsis."

"I want her to release the Bisharp. It deserves freedom."

Getting right to the point, did he? All the better – she'd waste less time on this triviality.

"I ordered her to release the Bisharp and she disobeyed and laughed at me! I want her to release it!"
She was surprised it had come to this. She'd be sure if Natural was to bring this to his father's attention, Ghetsis would be furious at his son's behaviour.

"A king doesn't demand! He serves!"

Natural had hardly ever gotten anything to go his way.

"You said we fight for all Pokémon! All the ones suffering! That Bisharp is suffering – I can hear it!"

She froze. Her breath hitched at the boy's claim, at his outrageous words and when she locked eyes with him – she felt disgusted.

Bisharp wasn't suffering – it-it wasn't! She had saved him from a fight, had battled alongside it for years and this-this pathetic excuse for royalty dared to accuse her of…

Her eyes flitted to Ghetsis, her gaze for once betraying her innermost thoughts. She was met with – she was frightened by it. Not once had she wavered in her loyalty towards the sage, yet today...

"Release the Pokémon. The future king has spoken."

Ghetsis eyes were bereft of emotion, cold and empty as he spoke those words – no empathy was to be found there.

He could stop his son, everyone knew that. N was a teenager. Nothing but a teenager with a gift and a father that could control his every move and every thought.

He could put a stop to this any minute know, yet he didn't.

"Yes, my lord."

She preened herself on her grip on life – on her body, her mind, her emotions, yet her skills failed her as she carefully deposited the Pokéball in her prince's waiting hand.

She owed Ghetsis her loyalty. She owed only Ghetsis her loyalty.

xxx

Being loyal was difficult if all you could feel was hatred. Not once had she felt herself doubt Ghetsis as much as she did now. As much as she did when her Bisharp was taken from her.

But most of all, she hated the prince. His righteous smile and his mocking grin haunted her dreams. The way he had lied and made up an excuse to spite her – to punish her for following her duty.

She hated him with all her heart. Yet she was entirely powerless to do anything – the most skilled warrior in the palace and she had been forced to watch her partner get taken away. It was perhaps the first time ever that she had questioned Ghetsis.

She wanted to hate Ghetsis – hated the prince – but couldn't bring herself to it. So she focused on the prince on the boy smiling his selfish smile, on the boy that grossly misused his power. But he was a prince still and she had to pay respect. So when he approached her a good week after everything had happened, she bowed low, hiding her snarl behind her masks and steeling her eyes to seem a little less piercing.

"R-Raise. You-You can get-get up."

She may have been powerless against him but Ghetsis was not – perhaps she should tell him his precious son had stuttered? The sage despised weakness and by now, the boy should be capable of forming normal sentences.

She rose to her full height, glad she was towering above his form still – though not for much longer anymore, she feared.

"My lord."

Her voice was impassive as always and his gaze refused to meet hers, so she needn't worry about her expression. Perhaps she could relay this as well? Natural had been instructed to always meet someone's gaze.

He was holding a Pokéball, she noticed. Was he going to-

"It's – It's your Bisharp!"

He trust the Pokéball into her face and her mind went...it went blank.

"Trainers are bad! All of them! Fighting is bad!", he explained, his voice trembling with righteous fury.

"But – Team Plasma isn't like that."

He handed her back the Pokéball, eyes not once daring to meet hers.

She took it, not a single word leaving her mouth as she rose. At first, she thought he was watching her in disgust until she realized he was eyeing the item in her hand.

"But let her out! As often as possible! No Pokémon should be bound to – to some trap!"

Natural had never dared to meet any of the Shadow Triad's eyes, had never dared to gaze into those dark circles – he found them disturbing. Strange. inhuman and Natural had hardly ever found inhuman things disturbing.
Yet there was something about those three...He had requested a separate guard for a reason.

"I will, my lord", she said. She bowed – then she vanished.

xxx

For once, Retienne wasn't shrouded in shadows and mystery as she stepped into the prince's room. No, she announced herself to the goddesses who went to wake the boy.

She followed closely behind, watching as Natural was softly awoken to the world three hours before his usual time.

"It's early", he grumbled. The goddesses stepped aside, to let Retienne take the lead – she had requested this audience after all.

"It is, my lord – however, I have petitioned your father to let me undertake your physical education."

Their prince yawned. Stretched. Blinked into the bright light hanging over them.

"It's early", he repeated, considerably more awake than before. Sage Ghetsis was trying to turn Natural into a morning person, yet so far, his endeavours had been met with little to no success.

"I know, my lord – however, your father has allotted this morning – and this morning only – to your education. Make haste – we barely have two hours."

At that, their prince perked up, his eyes widening and a grin spreading across his face.

"Physical education...Will you teach me how to fight?" He scrambled out of his bed, naked feat padding against the floor."Like in the movies?"

Anthea and Concordia had shown him plenty of movies – a great deal of them for recreational purposes, rather than educational. Ghetsis had been furious when he'd first found out, but the two goddesses had been insistent and pointed out that they were meant to shape the young prince's life outside his education.

He quite adored them, she had been told.

"Perhaps not how to fight just yet-" His eyes turned pleading. "-but perhaps we can add some lessons on hand-to-hand combat at a later time."

Their prince had been taught well enough not to erupt into cheers or other such childish behaviour, yet he had yet to learn how to properly mask his emotions, as his eyes lit up in delight.

She had no intention of teaching him hand-to-hand combat though. Ghetsis had banned her from doing so, fearing their future king might injure himself while training.

"Thank you, Retienne!"

Perhaps her eyes shone a bit brighter at his words, though she'd staunchly deny any such claims.

"I expect you to be at the training fields in half an hour."

She nodded towards Anthea and Concordia who busied themselves dragging the boy out of bed – for once she didn't vanish into thin air.

.o.O.o.

Retienne wondered how long it would take him to spot her. Natural had a knack for noticing her brothers and her – sometimes he'd notice the way light warped itself suspiciously around one place and sometimes he'd be entirely too distracted by whatever things was placed in front of him.

Though, this time it was less of a "thing" and more of a brunette his age that smiled entirely too much for her taste. When Ghetsis had told her their king had found himself a friend she had expected someone more...composed. Regal. Not a teenage girl with a simmering crush with little to no knowledge of propriety and entirely too much knowledge of romantic dramas.

Anthea would get along with her splendidly.

Allowing herself to observe the shady paths crossing Pinwheel forest for another ten seconds, Retienne decided it was time to make her move. The street was devoid of anyone but them – she announced her presence by stepping on a twig as she otherwise silently slipped out of the undergrowth, her eyes trained on the boy before her.

To his credit, Natural did not startle, meeting her cool gaze in kind.

"Retienne."

"Your majesty."

Ever since she had taken over his physical education for a pitiful few months – they never did get to the hand-to-hand combat, though Ghetsis would have never permitted it anyway – Natural had lost most of his wariness. He disliked her brothers at times and was a great deal more intimidated by them, but he rarely ever felt the same dread he used to whenever they stepped into the room.

"I know what your voice sounds like", he had once told her and Retienne hadn't cared enough to ask what he meant by that.

"What brings you here?"

"Your father has sent me. He asked me to keep watch."

They both knew what Ghetsis meant by that and judging from the way Natural tried to keep himself from biting his lip, he was fully aware of his transgression.

"I did not request this nor was I informed of it."

"Your father thought it better to keep my presence hidden as to not disrupt your travel's natural flow."

"Why announce your presence then?"

"I was ordered to ensure your safety. You were ordered to keep away from your friend."

He blushed at that, a bright shade that made Retienne frown – her lord blushed but rarely.

"It wasn't ordered. It was requested."

Their king hardly ever grinned smugly – Ghetsis had taught him well and Natural was very much aware of the implications accompanying such a smile. She supposed one might think of it as "privilege" he let himself go in her presence, though she much rather he did not.

"Of course. My apologies, your majesty."

She stayed rooted to her spot. It didn't take long for N to start shifting uncomfortably at her cold stare that refused to ever stray from his form.

"Is everything alright, Retienne?"

"You must dismiss me."

"Oh..."

He didn't make a move to let her vanish, though. Quite the opposite – he narrowed his eyes and mustered her. It was amusing to see the way he tried to emulate Ghetsis.

"...You will return to my father."

"Yes, your majesty."

"You will tell him I disobeyed...You will tell him I denied his request."

"Yes, your majesty."

It was equally amusing to watch him lose his calm. He may have been crowned King, yet Ghetsis was his father still and as such, he'd never be able to deny the sage much.

"But – must you tell him?"

"My Lord, it is my duty to protect you from harm..."

"Touko would never hurt me!", he interrupted her, throwing up his hands. Retienne narrowed her eyes at that. Touko? He said her namely amusingly fondly – it made her smile, almost.

Not that it mattered, her face hidden underneath a layer of masks. Yet, a tree falling with no one around created a sound still, so she suppressed her mouth's twitching.

"From all harm and we have explicitly been granted the right to go against your own wishes if we must."

Retienne wasn't smiling anymore – wasn't shifting, wasn't doing anything but standing there – her face hidden behind her shawl, white hair the only thing interrupting monotone blackness.

"I understand, Retienne."

No apology was spoken into the room's harsh cold, yet N liked to believe it had been thought at the very least.

.o.O.o.

Nosy had always found humans fascinating. They were adorable with their many pelts and their assortment of interesting things and Big Heart and her had spent a great deal of time following trainers that had visited their caves.

She, because she was curious and Big Heart because there were always berries ready to be stolen – or other food.

Nosy didn't understand why, but humans had really good food.

And so much cool stuff! Nosy had had a whole collection of cool things until she had decided to join this one trainer. Well, it had been kind of a spur moment. And it had been Rockstars fault.

"Was not!"

"Yes, it was, you gluttonous mudball!"

It had been entirely his fault! She had of course already informed her family she was ready to leave and while the brother she viewed as her family hadn't been delighted by her choice, he hadn't protested either.

"I'll know what happened if you ever don't come home."

"Look for me please? For 2000 drops? I get into trouble quickly!"

He had promised and they'd be done with that – she had really only looked for a trainer that looked nice enough to join. This one would never have been her first choice – she looked pretty boring, after all – but then Big Heart had gone and let himself be caught.

And then she had left her bag out in the open like that and really – how could Nosy possibly resist?

And anyway – leaving had been long overdo. She had rarely ever ventured outside her cave and it had been high-time for her to do so. Having Rockstar there with her was just an additional plus.

Her human being sad wasn't a plus though. And she was sad. Very, very sad, apparently if her weird skin, all rumply and scrunched up, was anything to go by.

Nosy would like to pretend she didn't know why, but the glaring problem was too easy to spot – she hadn't even needed to look far.

"Stop being so mean", she huffed, watching as that trainer was furiously scrubbing away at her bag, casting angry glances at Big Heart from time to time.

"She is nice. Stop being mean!"

"But it's fun!"

"Not for us!"

"She laughs!"

"Sometimes! Almost never!"

Though, he did have a point. Trainer did laugh from time to time – in her head, with her thoughts, with that weird mutilated speech thing they did. She had laughed a lot around those other humans in the cave and she had sometimes laughed when holding the red rock,

She hadn't smiled while the journeyed back to the city. Usually, Nosy would have been highly irritated by that – she had already floated this exact same place before, after all! Back in the cave, she had refused to fly in the same air space twice, just to keep things more interesting that they used to be.

Caves were boring.

But anyway. Her human was sad. And this place was boring, so there was no need for her to go exploring, so she might as well try and cheer her up.

Their human seemed to appreciate the kiss she gave her – doing that weird thing with her lips that Nosy didn't understand, but she did understand the gratefulness she was sending her and that made Nosy happy enough to leave yet another kiss.

.o.O.o.

N wasn't scared of his father. He wasn't – he may be intimidated sometimes and he may fear him sometimes, but he wasn't scared. Not the way other people were – his fear stemmed from the respect he held towards the sage's wisdom and the lesson he shared with him.

Yet, N couldn't deny he was exceedingly happy there was a screen and a good few miles between them.

"I specifically requested you to stay away from that girl!", his father hissed almost. It was strange to see him this agitated over something so trivial, but N could understand why.

Humans were dangerous creatures and his father only wished for the best for him.

He should be thankful, despite the fear crawling along his spine as his father's cold eyes zeroed in on him.

It was probably better this way – this was a challenge. He needed to stand his ground and he much rather have a...practice run.

"As I have said before – and after consulting the sages – I have come to the conclusion that talking to Touko will help me a great deal understanding humans."

He had refined his words time and time again until settling on this – it should be enough. He'd rather not have this discussion another time.

And it seemed to be enough! His father seemed to think his words over, silence wrapping around them for five long minutes – long enough for N to wonder whether he was expected to say something.

"You will get your heart broken", he eventually said – indifference accompanying his words – N hardly noticed as he fought to dim down his blush.

"Father, I don't – I didn't-"

She was a friend! Hardly a friend!

"I don't like her like that!", he exclaimed, cursing his stutter which seemed to only strengthen Ghetsis in his convictions.

"This friend of yours? She will betray you. She will discard this supposed "friendship" in a heartbeat and you will be left to pick up the shards, asking me for help!"

Ghetsis stepped closer to the screen, cold fury burning his skin.

He didn't understand. She was a friend, a friend listening to him, a friend open to their truth! Why should he not learn more about her? He was meant to question this world, was meant to learn human interaction – needed to. He was meant to be king of this country and a substantial part of his subjects would be human.

He needed to know them.

"I have made my decision, father."

His father's eyebrows shot up at that.

"I...am convinced this will help me. I have taken a great deal of council on this matter and have judged the situation accordingly. I am certain she poses no danger."

"Very well."

Ghetsis' expression became a blank once more – his gaze shifting from N to the various papers laid out in front of him. He sorted them, shifted them around as N stood there, silently, expectantly – his father had yet to dismiss him and he dared not anger the sage another time.

"I've heard you've obtained the second gym badge?"

A lump loosened in his throat – he had won that battle and he was grateful he'd been allowed a short break before taking on the third gym. He had specifically requested it to roam Pinwheel Forest once more, as he had done in his youth.

Perhaps he'd encounter Zorua even.

But that didn't matter right now – he was on duty and he had to report back to his father.

"The battle was hardly a problem. It went by with ease thanks to the help of the Pokémon that lend their strength to our cause. I have released each of them again and..."

And that hadn't gone off as easily as one expected it to.

"The Pidove...he tried to stay?"

That Flying-Type had confused him a great deal – not unlike the one he had encountered in Pinwheel forest while looking for Nosy. Though, entirely different, still.

"I don't understand. He...begged me almost to let him stay. It was strange and I...don't understand."

Yet again, they were encased by silence as his father decided on advice to give and this time, N waited anxiously for his words – it hadn't kept him up much, but he'd much like an answer to why.

Why any Pokémon would ever choose this.

"Every Pokémon is difference – I am sure you know, my lord. Yet, perhaps this rare exception may have...enjoyed being caught and being forced to fight."

That didn't make sense – that didn't make sense at all! Why would…

"By pure indoctrination, of course", Ghetsis hurried to say, his eyes slipping up for a second that went by unnoticed:"It's easier to live this life if you've made yourself believe it is something you want – but make no mistake. That Pidove suffered – it may not have shown, but it suffered and your presence alone made i-his suffering go away."

N...preened at his father's words. He had, hadn't he?

"You are a good person, N – you are a great leader and one day will become this region's king, reigning like no other. Do not worry about what other's might tell you – don't stray of this path leading your truth to greatness. It's all we humans have."

.o.O.o.

Nacrene City was a peaceful town. A place for art and a place for knowledge, a change from busy Castelian streets. Encased by the thick forest framing the region they were pretty cut off from the world. The most that ever happened was a train accident or perhaps a burglary – but unlike the noisy alleys of the capital or the colorful hubbub found in Nimbasa, Nacrene City was peaceful.

Yet, right in the middle of its city center lay two buildings of great note. The local museum of history – known far and wide across the land – and a less famous office building, hidden away a few streets further down. It had been bought up recently and had seen regular traffic ever since.

Today was no different. People entered Team Plasma's local HQ and plenty of them left as well, satisfied by whatever advise they had been given.

Juliet hoped she'd come to find some advice as well.

Nervously, she bit her nails, her eyes glancing at her VisoCaster from time to time – the address was correct, if she had any doubts left about that. The organization's emblem shone brightly down on her, leaving little place for questions and she knew, she was just stalling, really.

But it wasn't easy.

None of this was easy.

Taking a third deep breath, Juliet finally willed herself to move, cold air hitting her as the slide doors opened and she entered the almost freezing cold interior. For some reason most Team Plasma office buildings had their AC turned up to the max at all times. Perhaps it was due to the heavy uniforms they wore. They were supposed to be made from natural fibers, but Juliet couldn't imagine them to be pleasant when worn in the summer heat.

Shaking her head, she shook of the frost and looked around, searching for a counter of sorts. It didn't take her long to spot one and she marched towards it.

Patiently, she waited as the woman sitting at the counter nervously glanced at her, a phone pressed to her ear. She frantically signaled her she'd be there in a second and Juliet nodded. She had expected to have to wait and had been pleasantly surprised already. She could wait a minute or two.

Eventually, the phone call was over and the woman smiled gratefully.

"My apologies, that was a sponsor – but regardless! My name's Habiba, how can I help you?"

"Oh, I, uh...Can you file complaints?"

"Complaints? I am unsure – could you elaborate n what you mean by that?"

"I, uh...Maybe 'complaint' isn't the right word to use here, but, uh...An incident? I – Some...acquaintance of mine and I..."

Somewhere behind her, the front door opened and several people entered at once – shutting up the entire place. Habiba positively froze and suddenly, there was no other sound than the quiet murmur by the newcomers.

Juliet didn't even have time to turn around, when she was approached.

It was an elderly voice that spoke and had Habiba not frozen, Juliet would have known by that tone itself that whoever was behind her, they held a great deal of authority.

All in all, Team Plasma were pretty lax when it came to hierarchy. There was a general sense of letting long-time members speak before newer ones, but all in all, Juliet had never felt as if she'd been treated anything but equal. But she had heard stories of higher-ups before and how strict they could be. Most Team Plasma members valued discussions a lot but there had been rumors…

Shyly, Juliet dared to turn around, facing the tall man in front of her, clad in elaborate robes adorned by a great many symbols she had never seen before.

And just as she scrutinized him, so did her carefully observe her, until his eyes fell upon the wristband peeking out from underneath her sleeve and his expression lit up.

"Oh! An interested guest! My sincerest apologies – I did not mean to come across as overbearing. I'm Gorm, one of the admins. But 'Don't scare them away' as they say! But may I ask what leads you to our establishment?"

Juliet glanced at Habiba who was smiling aggressively now.

Her reason for...was this really the right person to tell about the, uh, incident?

"I – have a question?"

"A question? Well – perhaps I can help? A world is carried on the shoulders of the young, as they say – and I'd do anything to help or youth out."

The man smiled fondly and..nicely. Albeit the strange sense of reverence that had overcome Juliet, she didn't feel belittled by this man either.

Just a tad bit intimidated.

"Pray tell – what's on your mind, if I may ask?"

"I just...", Juliet stammered, her eyes shying away. She hadn't expected to be confronted with a man of such esteem as Gorm. She didn't know much about Team Plasma's inner workings – she had never been initiated, after all, posing merely as someone interested in joining, but not a member just yet.

After all she had seen, she wasn't sure if she wanted to join at all. She hadn't told anyone about her interest either, making her decision all the harder. Her family wouldn't understand why she'd care about their cause at all – her grandfather had been a farmer and her uncle was a farmer still, their work heavily reliant on Pokémon and she knew their Pokémon seemed to be...fine for the mist part, but she...she didn't like what was happening around her. She didn't like it at all.

That's why she was here. Because Team Plasma promised a better future for all those poor Pokémon forced to do things they didn't want.

"I-I saw two...two Team Plasma members mistreat a Pokémon. A Munna in the Dreamyard – that's a place in Striaton. C-Close to Striaton. On the outskirts, I don't – lots of trainers go there to, uh, train?"

She had wanted to report this for some time and also she hadn't wanted to report this.

She had tried to calm her raging consciousness by telling herself reporting them to the police would only lead to shedding a light on the whole organization – and Team Plasma didn't deserve that – so she had decided to let Team Plasma handle it. Surely, there were disciplinary actions to be set in place in a case like that.

Apparently there were, as Gorm nodded understandingly.

"Of course – that must have been horrible, to witness such a vile act – though, are you sure you were not mistaken?"

Juliet frowned.

"I, uh, I saw them wear the uniform?"

Gorm nodded again – he was starting to creep her out.

"Of course – they might have impersonated us, but we'll be sure to follow this up. Team Plasma stands for Pokémon liberation and welfare. Truly, a cause worth fighting for!"

"Uh...I think so?"

Satisfied, Gorm nodded another time.

"I'll leave you to it, then", he said, smiling unpleasantly, sending shivers down her back. It seemed holier-than-thou and like a big, fat lie.

"And be assured, I, in Team Plasma's name, will be eternally thankful for this service to us – for your loyalty to the organization and the mission!"
He nodded at the girl once before turning around with a flourish, his heavy robes dragging along the floor, leaving the girl to file her nonsense report.

What a waste of time.

They had hardly made it through the first door leading to the private parts of the building when his entourage spoke up.

"My lord? Do you know what the girl was talking about?"

Gorm scoffed.

"Yes, I've heard rumours – they botched a mission in Striaton City, apparently – they were tasked with collecting Dream Dust for Ghetsis' Hidden Ability plan. I've heard they were harassed by some teenagers and beat by them, too...Pity. But enough of that we have other matters to focus on."

"Will you track them down?"

"Of course not! Such tasks are beneath me – and how would I go about that, anyway? It'd be like looking for a needle in a haystack, there's a reason we make all the grunts look the same."

Gorm stepped through another door into a neatly set up conference room. There were cookies stacked at one side of the room and the tables were set up in a U-shape. Promptly, Gorm took up his seat at the head of the table, impatiently waiting for everyone else to fill in.

Ghetsis personally had assigned him this mission and he'd rather not irk the high sage by failing it.

Gradually, everyone that was needed had arrived – just on time for him to start explaining their plan.

The moment the door fell closed, Gorm began.

"This is our objective."

A picture of a pitch black stone was projected behind him, fully enclosed by showcase in a busy museum.

"The Dark Stone."

I really need to start introducing new things that are happening, because at this point it feels like I'm going in circles at time – but next chapter will have a great deal of things happening!

Anyhow. I've learned that 'curious' isn't an official Pokémon nature – I could have sownr I saw that somewhere, but I was wrong. Therefore, I'm pretending it has been quirky all along (not that that changes anything about the way Wobuff/Nosy will act though)

I'd like to point out that while Touko isn't the best trainer out there (yet), team building does go both ways and Ollie certainly isn't helping things. But don't worry! Things will get better! They'll get worse first, but they'll definitely get better! In chapter 22 we'll leave this angsty mess behind for good!

Also, I didn't find the canon age of Iris, but seeing how this is based off of Pokémon White – N gets Reshiram after all – Iris has to be thee gym leader and I dislike the idea of making an underage girl a gym leader. Therefore, she's around at the moment. I hope no one minds ^^

Anyhow, to celebrate me not losing my plot outline for once, here are some little tidbits for next chapter!

If it were up to Touko, she'd never catch a Pokémon with a curious nature ever again.

N gets to do stuff! Important stuff! Stuff that isn't just texting and being confused!

"Yes, I – I think I might know what...It's not important."