Chapter 9 - Images and Ideals


One year ago

Nimbasa City, Passione Auditorium, Backstage - Elesa

"Kroooom!"

Crack!

Thunder blasted in the sky, rattling everyone's ears with enough force and tripping them out of balance at its ferocity that you'd be mistaken that there's an earthquake hitting the city. When that crash of noise had hit the city's sky this morning, but with no accompanying downpour or any dark clouds forming, I'd dismissed it as maybe the odd cloud which was filled with charge due to pokemon activity. Maybe an Blitzle was blasting lightning and letting off some steam, or maybe an trainer annoyed their Emolga enough to get thunderbolted while they were in flight among the clouds. Hopefully whichever bird was carrying them didn't get hit too hard, at least not hard enough to crash them to the ground.

The lack of any news after that initial roar of thunder was good I'd thought. Probably meant that nodding bad had happened. And probably nothing that'd affect my evening fashion show with the designers based in Kanto, who'd be showing off their wares on me and the other girls.

Looking back, that was pretty wishful thinking…

You know what they say.

When the fierce thunder blasts, when raging fire explodes. The world's howls begin.

I stared blankly at Officer Jenny as she stood before me in my make-up room.

"You're telling me… Zekrom is in the city?"

The Officer, decked in a blue and blue and buttoned uniform and wearing her cop's cap, frowned as she thought of her reply, her eyes flicking from one corner of the room to another. "We… suspect the dragon is in the city." She looked at me with pursed lips. "We're not sure."

You suspect? How do you suspect a giant, lightning-blasting dragon roaming the city? Aren't there any people screaming their heads off as they run from it? And I'm sure they're enough hotshot trainers who'd try and catch the black dragon. Don't you think the explosions of their defeat would be a dead giveaway?

Officer Jenny held a dagger-shaped device in her hand, with a small antennae sticking out of its edges. I peered closer out of curiosity and saw a flashing radar on its surface, which let out dull pings. "Ever since the thunder in the morning, electric pokemon in the city have been acting odd," she said while fiddling with some knobs on her machine, "they started moving outdoors and standing around on the streets, looking happy to just be out in the sun. Some of them even perched upon rooftops." She frowned and gave her device a good whack, after which it began pinging in earnest. She turned to me, "does that sound familiar?"

Hmm, familiar… I frowned and brought out a pokeball from my pocket. Clicking it open and then-

Pop!

"Emolga!" My tiny electric squirrel with her round upright ears, pale underside and black and furry backside popped out of her pokeball, gliding in the air - with her thin wing-like skin which stretched from her arms to her tail - and then settled down on my shoulder. She gave me a quick smile before her head twisted here and there, the same look in her eyes whenever there's a thunderstorm. Emolga hopped off me and glided over to the open window, and poked her head out-

Spark! Spark!

"Emooolga!" She chirped happily, as tiny sparks of electricity got sucked into the round and yellow electric sacs on her cheeks.

I frowned as I saw this. Emolga only does this whenever it's raining. Climbing onto the rooftop of our home, setting under an overhang, and then jumping out to meet the lightning whenever it looks like it's about to hit the house. Basically acting like a lightning rod and laughing happily and doing a little twirl in the air whenever the lightning actually did hit her. My Zebstrika's the same. And I actually think he's the one Emolga picked up this habit from. I have to keep an eye on those two during rainy days, so that they don't wander off too far away in search of their electric kick.

But now it's not even raining. I looked out the window at the sky and saw clear skies. And then there's Emolga who's chirping happily and kicking her feet as if the only reason she's not jumping out the window and gliding away is to not make me worry.

"The air…," I whispered as I saw Emolga's cheeks being zapped with current to which her eyes sparked with glee, "it's filled with negative charge." I turned to Officer Jenny, "you think Zekrom is behind this?"

Officer Jenny spared me a glance and a frown, "you tell me, you're the one who sighted the dragon one year ago." She went back to fiddling with her device, "did your electric pokemon behave oddly when roaming Team Plasma's castle?"

Well… they were sparking with energy and restless as we made our way through the Plasma grunts. I thought it was just their nerves acting up and made sure to reassure them that we'd bring the goons to justice. To which Emolga made a confused chitter at me and Zebstrika snorted and looked away.

They did perk up and seemed doubly raring to go at the enemy pokemon whenever they heard Zekrom's roars, followed by a blinding blast of blue electricity which lit up the entire castle as the girl with Reshiram fought Plasma's leader.

I focused on Emolga sitting by the window.

So, this is due to Zekrom? How is its presence affecting you, Emolga? I turned to the Officer and posed her the same question.

"See this?" She walked closer and showed me her device, which was filled with '-' symbols against a backdrop of what looked like the city map. "This is the spread of negative charge in the city. See how it moves along pathways, streets, and seems to stick near the rooftops." I squinted as I tried to see the same thing she was. "We spoke to a few scientists and they say Zekrom might be releasing his energy into the air, turning its charge negative. And this in turn attracts electric pokemon which like a good zap or two. To them it's like bathing in a storm without the mess of getting wet."

Officer Jenny left the dagger-like tracker in my hands and leaned against the wall with crossed hands, "Elesa, right now there's only one reason we're not ordering an evac of the city and escorting everyone to a bunker."

I blinked in surprise and turned up to her, "is the situation that serious?"

The Officer sighed, "we have a legendary ancient which can reduce the city to ashes at a moment's notice. Of course it's serious, Elesa." Her eyes were sharp as she gazed at me. "But… we're hopeful. In a way."

I drew back into myself, immediately going on guard at that look.

"Officer… What do you want with me?" I narrowed my eyes. "I'm not a part of the force and you don't report to me. So what's with the status update you've been giving?"

She raised her hands, palms open, as if to show that she's harmless. "I really am sorry for barging in without warning." She chuckled, "caught you in the middle of your make-up, I guess." Well, yeah. The business execs for a few fashion houses got together to arrange a fashion show to explore, what they think is, the untapped market for circus-wear. My agent was sceptical when they approached her but then they waved their magic-wand made of statistics at her, wowing and impressing her at the niche they'd identified using markets and baskets analysis or something… And then I got a call from her about all the dough we'd be rolling in if we signed the contract and then…

I started back at myself wearing a clown costume in the mirror. Dressed in bright and eye scalding colours of red and blue. Polka dots spotted my baggy pants, while jolly white stripes ran from my hip to neck, with my full-sleeved poofy shirt held together by smiley-faced buttons, and the sleeve-ends happily cheering their spectators on with their pom-pom like cuffs. Looking at myself with feelings which themselves didn't know what to feel, I grabbed my round red nose and-

Honk!

And honked it to make myself feel better.

"You could just, I don't know, say no right?" Skyla frowned at me from the Xtransceiver when I broke the news of my upcoming show while fully decked in my comical cloth-wear. While I can refuse, I can't say that this will be completely ridiculous, I am trying for an image change after all. I let out an annoyed sigh. Would be great if people stopped calling me an emotionless and cold beauty. At least calling me a robot would make me feel better. Robots are cool. And anyway, who just wants to be a pretty face? There's an actual person behind the face you know? Skyla blinked back, "is… is this because I said your puns are lame? " Her eyes slowly widened, "hey, do not make me the reason you're doing this." I chuckled back, grabbed my nose and-

Honk!

Don't worry, Skyla. Things are gonna be just honky dory.

Skyla cringed and shivered like she'd swallowed a lemon, making me cover my mouth as I tried to control my snickers. "Oh my god, Elesa. Did Zebstrika thunderbolt you too much or something? You've gone nuts." I gave her a serious look. No, not Zebstrika. It was a nutty Pikachu. "Huh? What-?"

You could say it was a… Pi- cashew!

"…"

Eh? Eh? Get it? Nuts and Pika-

Skyla groaned as she buried her face in her hands.

"Stoop. I don't wanna start looking for hidden meanings everywhere. " Oh goodie, you're well on your way to the world of double entendres. She gave me a scared look, "w-what?" Stage 1, dawning horror. Stage 2, reluctant appreciation. And then stage 3, caving in to the thrill. Skyla blinked wide eyes before she glared at me, shaking a fist in the air, "y-you! Elesa, if you turn me into a cringe monster like you, you won't hear the end of it from me!" I scoffed and threw my hair back. You think that's enough to satisfy me? Low chuckles escaped me as my eyes gleamed with visions of a world filled with quips. Why settle at one, when you can have an entire region. Skyla stepped back with alarm settling in her eyes, "no… Unova is just one letter short of… Oh god."

Yes. You see it too, don't you.

"N-No! I don't see anything!"

You feel it in your bones, don't you?

"I just feel weird!"

Come on, Skyla. Don't run from your destiny-

"Punova is a silly name and I will play no part in your delusions!"

…Huh? I blinked in wonder at the groovy mish-mash of words she uttered. Melodic, yet indecipherable. What in bolt's name did they mean?

Skyla gave me a dubious frown.

"What? Don't tell me you didn't get it? You said nation, and we live in Unova so I thought… you know, Punova." W-Wow. I gave her an amazed stare. That is way better than what I had in mind. "What were you thinking?" Take a Country and make it a Puntry. "…That's stupid." And you are brilliant. I beamed at her.

She pursed her lips, seemingly thinking about it, before a hesitant smile rose on her face. "Hm, I guess." She crossed her arms and tilted her head up smugly, "just goes to show I'm a better pilot than you are!" Umm… is that fair? That's like saying I'm a better model than you are- Skyla waved me off impatiently, "not that, thunderhead. Pilot? Like experimenting with new stuff? And also I'm a pilot…" She pouted at me, "I thought you'd get it-… uh, why're you crying?"

O-Oh. Don't mind me. I wiped a few overjoyed tears off. Stage 2 is progressing well I see. Skyla paled as her eyes widened. She whispered,

"That was just… I was just messing around."

I smirked. I have taught you well, my high flying apprentice. You're starting to remind me of my rookie days.

She huffed bravely and turned away, trying her best to deny my insight with her mocking tone,

"Oh no, what have I become." She rolled her eyes, "pull the other one, Elesa. I'm not your kind of talented."

Mm-hm. Mm-hm. I nodded with a pleased smile. Ladies and gentlemen, we have broken into stage 3. And at Skyla's confused look, I reused the very words she'd just spoken, only this time, bringing out their puntastic potential,

"Indeed, what ave you beak-ome, Skyla." My hand mimed a flapping beak, slapping my thumb against the flat of my other fingers. I grinned at her and let out a snicker, "you're quite talon-ted. Very talon-ted." I swiped at the air with my clawed palm.

Skyla stared back with wide eyes as the words sunk in, her voice shakily breathing out,

"No… N-No, this is some trick-" She gulped as she hugged herself, repeating to herself in a chant, "I-I'm no closet birdbrain- I-I'm no closet birdbrain-"

You mean, claws-it? My clawed hands went wild with fury-swiping the air.

Skyla stared at me with big eyes and then-

"E-Eek!" She jerked back and fell on her butt. Her eyes wild as she shrieked, "W-What have you-!" She blinked and snapped her mouth close, and then carefully chose her words, "w-what did you do me! W-Why am I speaking weird?!" I gave her a kind smile and spread my arms out. Welcome to the dork side, Skyla. You've kept us waiting. Skyla's eyes twitched and her mouth quivered like she had some choice words to say, but she settled for grabbing her head and muttering to herself,

"Elesa's an idiot. Elesa's an idiot." I pouted. Now that's not very nice. "Ignore her. Ignore her." You know I can hear you, right? "It's alright, Skyla. It's alright. It's not too late."

…Hmm. I gave Skyla an impressed look. Not bad, I like that one.

"O-Oh come on!" Came her whiny voice. "D-Don't tell me-"

It's alright, Skyla. It's alright. We'll get rid of this silly hangup of yours. I grinned. In fact, it's-

"I said don't tell me!"

It's Natu late!

"…"

You know? Like the small hopping green bird?

"O-Oh crow up, Elesa. Your cheep mind-games w-won't work on m-me!"

Uhh, do you mean cheap? Or cheeping like a bird? That crow up bit threw me off.

It took Skyla all of one second to process that and then-

"Aaahhh!" Skyla screamed, scrambling to her feet and running away, disappearing from the video as her Xtransceiver clattered to the ground. Her frantic yell echoed in her house, "grandpaaa! I-I'm a monsteeer!"

Her grandfather's bemused voice went, "oh? We're playing that game again after all these years?" He chuckled, "what are you this time? A Wingull? Do you want to me to get the dress-"

Skyla let out an embarrassed 'eep!' and sputtered, "g-grandpa! I'm not a little girl anymore! W-Wait, don't bring out the costumes!"

Her grandfather's warm and nostalgic voice said, as I heard the shuffling of boxes, "remember this one? The pointy hat and mask which makes you look like a Murkrow. Hah, what was it you and Elesa used to call it? Your… bird caw-stume? Haha, cawing like a Murkrow wasn't it?"

"…"

Skyla's silence was like a bubbling volcano and then-

"Elesaaa!" She screeched with rage, with thuds ringing out as if she were punching the wall. "I-I'm gonna kill you, thunderhead! S-Since how long were you brainwashing me?! I laughed sheepishly. Ooh boy, she's onto me. Guess I overdid it. "Unfezant! We're going to Nimbassa and giving someone a bad hair day!"

"Fezant." Trilled back her Unfezant.

Knowing that Skyla was mad enough to make good on her threat, I quickly cut the call and hastily ducked into a beauty salon and dyed my hair black. And just in time as well, as I encountered Skyla right outside the building, tapping her foot impatiently and staring at whoever came out the doors with an irritated scowl.

I tried to walk away nonchalantly but Skyla stepped right in front of me and blocked my path, giving me an unsure look as if she weren't sure how sure she was of her suspicions.

I smiled and quite convincingly altered my voice, "good day, miss. Can I help you?"

Skyla gave me a flat look, "Elesa. I know it's you."

I blinked with incomprehension, "I'm sorry, I don't understand?" I crossed my hands, "you mean that supermodel? Isn't she blond?" I then made an 'O' with my mouth and punched my fist into my palm, "oh I see where you're coming from, people keep telling me I look very much like her. Like I'm her long lost twin or something-"

Skyla patted the back of the brown feathered bird - which reached up to her elbow - standing beside her, "meet my good friend Punfezant." Unfezant blinked and turned to her with a repulsed trill. Skyla raised a brow at me, "how was that? Did that make a giga impact, Elesa?" I smiled back cluelessly. You'll have to do better than that to make me break character, birdbrain. Skyla sighed to herself and said with self-loathing, "wait don't tell me. It was utter per-peck-tion, right?" Unfezant put her wing on Skyla's forehead and gave her a concerned look, as if worried that she'd caught a bug or something.

And me?

" Impeccable , my dear," I found myself saying back with a snicker. I put a hand on her shoulder with a proud smile, "you're a natural."

Skyla sent a small smile back, "you really think so, Elesa?"

I nodded sincerely. Absolutely, Skyla.

Her smile immediately turned devious. "Heh, thanks for the confirmation." She glanced at the bird beside her. "Unfezant. Waste her hair."

…y-you bitch! I gave her an aghast look. I thought we were having a moment! She raised a brow, letting out a vindictive chuckle. I gulped as Unfezant hopped into the air and began flapping her wings. S-Skyla, y-you know how stubborn and bullheaded my hair is. Y-You won't ruin it right? It'll take me all day to get it looking good again!

"Yeah…" Skyla gave me an understanding look. "That's kinda the point." C-Come on! Be a good neighbour! She rolled her eyes, "I'm not a horse." …Ayy! I finger-gunned her with a grin. Good one-!

"Fezant!" Unfezant spread her arms wide and-

Swoosh!

I winced as that gust of wind lashed at me and blew me back to the present. A present in which my hair was thankfully straightened out and not a dust and twig ridden mess of haphazardly sticking-out strands. Ironing down my black dyed hair with my hand at that memory, just to make sure that no hint of Skyla's retribution remained, I turned to the Officer with an expectant look, as if she was wasting my time. Because she really was.

"Okay, I'll cut to the chase." Officer Jenny gave me a serious look. "The fugitive N, formerly called the King of Team Plasma by its members, is currently within Nimbasa City as of 1100 hours."

Okay? I frowned at her. Just nab him then?

Officer Jenny shook her head, "we can't. We don't know what he looks like." What? Are you joking? I gave her a baffled look. That guy was their leader. And you don't know what the enemy's leader looks like? I pursed my lips. He even beat Champion Alder in a fight, how can that escape your notice. Officer Jenny gave me an unimpressed stare, "yes, we are well aware of that. However," her eyes flashed and grew livid as she growled to herself, "it appears there were Team Plasma sympathisers within the police-force, and all images and video recordings of the fugitive were wiped clean."

Oh… that's kinda…

"Yes, you don't need to tell me," she said in a stiff tone. "We sent out an internal transmission calling all officers who ever encountered N to step up, but it looks like the only thing they remember is seeing a man with green hair. Their excuses go along the lines of 'we were in the thick of a fight, didn't quite catch his face', 'all I saw was a blur, like someone blotted his face off? Maybe I was too far away', 'His face? S-Sorry, I-I was distracted by that terrifying big Dragon standing behind him and growling at me! Oh, and his Zoroark was laughing at me I think.'" Officer Jenny glared at me, "so no, we have no idea what N looks like." Um, well. He does have green hair, can confirm. That good enough for a man-hunt?

Officer Jenny gave me a stare which seemed to question my general intelligence, "going by that our first suspect would be Striaton City's former gym leader, Cilan. We have reports saying he and his brothers were suspiciously absent from the fight at Team Plasma's castle." She frowned, bringing the radio attached to her chest closer to her mouth and muttering, "that is suspicious… maybe I should send out a capture and arrest order-"

My eyes widened and I hastily stopped her, "w-wait! It's not Cilan!" I shook my head, "Cilan couldn't hurt a fly even if he wanted to." I… probably should never say that to his face. I continued, more concerned with him not landing behind bars due to mistaken identity, "and anyway, he looks nothing like N." I frowned as I tried to recall that guy, "for one, N's hair was tied behind his back and fell below his shoulder. He's a few inches taller than Cilan, and his eyes were a duller shade."

My eyes saw N thrusting his arm forward and commanding the Plasma grunts to block our path while he turned around and marched further into the castle, his eyes a strange mix between regret at being forced to fight and a fierce intensity to stake everything he had to realise his conquest of Unova. "Your reality or my dreams," he spoke aloud as he ascended the staircase, staring down at us, looking particularly at the young girl who'd been here first in the castle and fighting alone until I'd arrived with the other gym leader to back her up. "Let's settle this today and set ourselves free from these meaningless battles."

The girl gave him a stiff smile and gripped her fist at him, yelling out, "aww, is the great saviour N getting tired of losing again and again to little ol' me?" She fluttered her eyes at him with a shit eating grin, "you mad bro?"

N snorted and shook his head, "eloquent as always I see." N bared down on her with narrowed eyes, "I'll ask one more time. Do you really not see things my way? Don't my ideas of saving pokemon seem compelling in the least?"

The girl fiddled with her cap - while idly sucker punching and downing a Plasma grunt who'd stepped a little too close to her range - "yeah, you're full of crap, N." She gave him an unimpressed look, "hey, your ideas are cool but that got me thinking…" A very curious look occupied her eyes, "you ever throw a punch in your life? Like, you ever wanna just blitz your enemies?"

N made a face at her, "that's a little too…" He rubbed his chin as he searched for the right word, "savage?" He frowned at her, "what has that got to do with anything?"

"Hehehe," the girl chuckled with a strange glint in her eyes, while stomach-kicking and downing another unfortunate grunt who'd wandered towards her position in midst of the pokemon attacks flying all over the place, "oh I'm gonna have fun with you," she muttered to herself and giggled lightly. And then she spoke out loud, "sorry monster guy, I really wanna have another go at you." She gave him a toothy smile, "but this time let's change things up a bit? Saving pokemon is your whole schtick right? So I'm sure you'll love it."

"Tch. So be it." N glowered at her before turning away, the disappointment at failing to recruit her filling his tone, "Meet me at the top if you can make it."

"Gotcha, man!" She thrust a hearty thumbs up at him. "It's a date!"

N furrowed his brow at her, muttering not so softly, "oh great, puppy love. Well at least she has taste." He barked a laugh, his shoulders shaking as rose up the stairs, "uncouth, loud and trouble-making. Hah maybe in a hundred years, girl. I'm far too out of your league." He ran a hand through his hair, flipping it back with a smirk and… I blinked dumbly at him. Damn, did his hair just glitter? "But never stop dreaming, Hilda. Impossible dreams are of the best kind." He said as a parting shot before disappearing from sight.

Well, someone thought highly of himself.

"…Yup! Totally gonna make him eat those words! " Hilda said with a wicked grin as she rolled her shoulder and cracked her knuckles.

"Looks like you have a good grasp of his psyche profile, Elesa," said Officer Jenny as I recounted how unlike Cilan N was. She frowned at me, "tell me, do you want to go on a dragon quest?"

…no. I have no such final fantasies. I gave her a wary look as her face seemed to have decided on something. She began speaking to me, "the reason why we're not in a state of panic right now is because of the fugitive's known distaste of violence. And his preference for giving speeches about whatever interests him. And if it's you…" Officer Jenny gave me an… apologetic look? "Let's hope he tries a pick-up line instead."

Hey… I glared at her. Are you throwing me to the wolves? What kind of cop are you?

She glared back, "we're not throwing you to anything. My men and women will be closely monitoring you. So unless you want my force to be electrocuted by Zekrom, please lend us a hand." I looked away. Can't you ask the champion? She's a dragon tamer right? The woman gave me a reprimanding frown, "she's eleven, Elesa. I'm not a monster." Oh? Then what about Opelucid's Gym Leader, Drayden? Officer Jenny hunted out her Xtransciever and dialled a number, "we tried reaching him, but it looks like he's someplace with no signal." Her Xtransciever beeped in the negative, making her sigh and stuff it back into her pocket. "Believe me, you weren't our first choice, Elesa."

You know, if I were even a bit as cold and emotionless as the world thought I was, I'd have just scoffed at the woman and told her to buzz off.

"…yeah sure, let's go sacrifice me to the ancient dragon."

Hm, I wonder if Zekrom would find me unappetizing if I showed up in a clown costume…

Heh, I hope it'll hate the dressing of its dish.

I snickered to myself and ignored the part of me gulping with dread at the vision of a snarling and lighting suffused dragon that flashed before my eyes.

Hoo boy. Cat-walking to my death.

Will probably make a good headline if I survive… Great publicity for whichever fashion-house I'm working with… Haha, great sales all around. Just like the time the amazing supermodel Elesa and friends took down Team Plasma. That made great advertising material.

I frowned as I followed the Officer out into the streets, wincing lightly at the bright sunlight.

Risking my life is just… an add-on to how eye-catching I am? How head-turning my name is?

What is worth more? Me, or my name?

I don't know. And that's… That just makes me feel so…

Expendable.


Spark-Park, Nimbasa City - Reception Area - N

I have a question.

How do you change the world?

Do you rally and stage protests, earnestly speaking your message and engaging others in intelligent discussion?

I frowned and ran a hand down my face, the phantom mess of tomato splattered cheeks slid off my palm as I did so.

Should we form a group of like-minded people who'd endeavour to do good despite the harsh odds, to bring out a better reality in-spite of all the jeers and boos.

I winced and shivered as the girl and her ear-to-ear grin flashed in my mind. Just in case, I looked to my left, I looked to my right, and breathed a sigh of relief as no rowdy girls met my sight. I looked to the sky and thanked my father, Ghetsis. A brave man whose sacrifice I'll never forget. "A-Aaah! G-Get her off me! Get this feral girl off me!" A brave man who sacrificed himself so I could hop on Zekrom and run away for my life. "G-Get back here you disloyal wretch! You'd abandon me?!" Every man for himself. "Girl! …How would you like Lord N's number in exchange for surrendering me to the cops?"

My eyes widened as I whipped my head back, seeing Ghetsis give me an evil smirk before he began reciting the digits, while Hilda blinked in surprise before her face erupted into an excited smile as she hurried to note them down. Ghetsis… you absolute villain! You'd sacrifice me to save yourself? I can forgive manipulating me my whole life into being your pawn, but this? My heart ached with sorrow as I saw Hilda hand him over to the police who'd stormed into the room. How could you, Ghetsis? Hilda then turned and met my gaze, and I froze with terror. H-How could you sacrifice me to t-that? Also it was at that moment I realised that Zekrom had moved jack-squat and was more engaged in growling with hateful passion at Reshiram, who herself rumbled with fire blasting out her nose and her eyes narrowed at Zekrom. Which basically meant I was still within battling distance.

The girl happily skipped closer and began her cheery declaration of war.

"Ayo, N! Wanna go for round two-!" Stuck between the sky and an otherworldly force of nature, I committed to the most sensible option available to me.

I spread my arms out and gracefully fell backwards off my dragon-footed ledge, wholly embracing the grasp of the planet.

Whoosh!

Huh, the air is quite chilly this time of year, I mused as I rubbed my shoulders and saw the levels of the castle rapidly fly past me.

Hilda had gaped at me with horror the moment she saw me slide off Zekrom, her head popping out the castle's window as she screamed, "oh my god! N! Y-Your life might be a lie but don't throw it away, you idiot!" Ah, you misunderstand my dear monster. Valuing my life is precisely while I sought deliverance from your terrific company. I smiled up at her. Ahh, with that frightened look on her face she almost looks like a normal girl. And then a determined look slammed itself onto her face and I immediately paled. Oh dear, she's about to do something. She pulled out a fishing rod from her bag and grinned down at me with a scared smile, adjusting the hook at the end of the line, "sky-fishing, first time for everything eh?"

I goggled at her with big eyes.

A-Are you kidding me?! O-Oh god, somebody save me from this she-devil! Why did I ever pick a fight with her! If I could choke my past self and push him off the Ferris Wheel I most definitely would!

Beam!

A Galvantula materialised out of her pokeball and hung on the wall outside the castle, sticking with its four hairy and electrically charged feet.

Hilda tilted the rod over her shoulder and then-

Fling!

Flung it down and out the window, throwing the bait-lacking hook in my direction.

I breathed a sigh of relief, I thought she had a trick up her sleeve, but guess it's just wishful thinking on her part. I'm way too far down for that hook to ever catch up. So as they say in baseball, I'm safe!

"Spidey!" Hilda called Galvantula, whose head tilted slightly in her direction, "Sticky Web on the end of the line! Make sure it hits that green-haired guy!"

I feebly glanced about myself in hope that maybe there was some other green-haired guy falling down the castle. Maybe Ghetsis had a sudden itch for sky-diving and took the plunge?

"Galvan-" Galvantula stood on its hind legs and raised its head back, its six eyes honed in on me and- "-tula!"

Spit!

It spat a thick, round glob of web which hurtled towards me!

I gulped, h-hopefully it'll miss the line-?

Splat!

The web-shot hit the hook and embedded it into itself, and continued to soar downwards.

I chuckled uneasily, m-maybe Galvantula assumed that green meant the trees-tops-?

Splat!

…I glowered at Hilda. Girl, these were my coronation clothes. I grimaced as I tried moving my arms about but found them sluggish against the pull of the web which'd struck me square. Covered in thick webs and bound by their threads from head to leg, I wondered what the heck Zekrom was doing in the middle of all this.

"Why do you show your face every time I awaken!" Zekrom growled at Reshiram, as they both hung in the air outside the castle. "Can't I have some respite to myself!"

"You'd have your respite if you stopped awakening!" Reshiram lashed back with a baleful scowl. "I wake up and what do I hear? Zekrom is about to conquer Unova! Can't I sleep for five centuries without you trying to upheave something!"

Zekrom scoffed, "you have no zeal, no zest." He smirked, "the clash of wills is what I live for. The strife for the unattainable is why I breathe."

Reshiram glared, "you live in a false world of made-up notions. Creatures eat food, and creatures seek happiness. Does it really matter what goes on in their heads as they attain it? So long as they stay within limits. She shook her head with a frown, "You are just that, Zekrom, a dream. Touch the morning dew of the grass, you cloud-watcher." Zekrom stared at her with a raised brow. "What? Is the thought of discovering what's real too much for you?"

Zekrom's wings shifted as if bemused, "…Did you call me a dream? Do you even know what that means in today's vernacular?" Zekrom shuddered at the very thought of what it might mean, "don't tell me that bespectacled boy's words rotted your head. I've no interest in 'getting a room' with you."

Reshiram blinked, and her face immediately broke out in alarm. Gagging with horror, she turned a livid glare at Zekrom, "for putting such a ghastly idea in my head, my dear black dragon, I will bite your head off."

Zekrom scoffed and beckoned her closer with his claws and a confident smirk, "so long as you don't mind being bolted senseless." He said while sparking with angry blue thunderbolts.

Meanwhile, I sorely wished I had something to stuff my ears and block-out their questionable growls. Times like these make me wonder if understanding pokemon is more of a curse than a gift.

"Almost there, just a sec, N!" Hilda shouted out to me as she rapidly turned the reel of her fishing rod, making the line straighter and straighter, and then-

SNAP!

Pull!

"Aaaah!" She screamed as the line snapped taut and pulled her through the window, yanking her out in smooth fashion. I rolled my eyes, well that shoe finally fell. Hilda shrieked with abject panic as she clutched her fishing rod for dear life, however useless a gesture that is at this point, "H-Holy shit, I'm falling!" I gave her an impressed look. You don't say? She glared at me, her cap long having flown off her head and her hair being blasted by sharp winds, "screw you, asshole! This is all your fault!" Oh yes, blame the victim. Classic. She gave me a frazzled look, "why the heck are you so calm? We're gonna die!"

I chuckled.

You forget, Hilda. I was raised to be a King. And a man who would rule the world cannot show any hesitation in his actions and nothing is too big or small for him. I shook my head. I'm not afraid of death, I'm not afraid of anything. Hilda rubbed her chin, observing me and then the ground with interest, "man, this is a great set-up for a brainbuster… " She giggled, "a million storied brainbuster." She then blinked as if my words just registered in her head, "eh, whatcha say? You ain't afraid of anything? Soo…" A wild and excited gleam shone in her eyes, "if this is the end, then why not go out with a bang!"

…Ah, terror. I wondered where you'd disappeared to. I began shaking with dread as she made a rectangle with her fingers and saw through it, seemingly judging the aesthetics of nosediving my skull into the ground.

I-I need to stop her line of thinking! N-Now!

I grabbed the line of the rod and wrapped it taut around my wrist, wincing lightly as I tugged it with a sharp jerk. Making the girl squawk as she was pulled in my direction. Getting the idea, she grinned at me before she clutched the rod tight and began reeling in from her end, further hurrying her descent towards me. And as soon as she came within reach, I carried her in my grasp, my one hand supporting her back and the other tucked under her legs, "uh, dude. Totally the wrong set-up for this move. I can't swing you down like this." Hilda said, clutching my neck with her arms and trying to swing her legs up to twist us in the air. "But I can make it a diving bulldog-"

Yeah, no.

I quickly snatched her fishing rod off her hands and grasped it firmly. Satisfied by the sturdiness of the rod and line - I suppose sturdiness is a given, considering they're built to reel in even a Sharpedo - I quickly unwound the line to an acceptable length before locking it and making sure the reel hung steady and did not spin in opposite direction. Hilda gave me a smug look while I fiddled with the thing, "ain't she a beaut! I found it in Castelia City's sewers and got it fixed up!" So it's a Sewer Rod? "Super Rod!" Ignoring the girl's offended glare, I held the rod over my shoulder and hurled it like a javelin towards a thicket of trees growing on the edges of the cliff-side.

Clack!

The rod soared towards the treetops and soon got jammed between a tree's trunk and branches-

Snap!

The line snapped straight and then-

Swiiing!

The hook embedded in the webbing pulled us in an arc towards the cliff-side.

"Aaa-aaah-aaah-aah-aaaah~" Hilda beat her chest with her fists and yodelled like a true jungle-born human as we swung in the air. She saw my twitching eyes and giggled, "what? Not everyday you get to do this right?" She saluted and gave me a sincere look, "give me the verd, coach. Did I pass the raised-by-pokemon test?" I scowled at her. Are you making fun of me? "Pssh, me? Come oon. I would never insult the chosen one." She raised her nose in the air and preened with goading self-satisfaction, "hey King-a-roo, what's the score again? Is it two-zero or three-zero? Sorry, I don't pay attention to whooping scrubs."

My teeth gnashing with frustration at the harsh reality of losing to a little child, I ignored her infuriating taunts and instead focused on folding my legs up and bracing for impact-

Thud!

I bit my lip hard as I muffled the scream which wanted to escape me. My legs flaring with stinging pain as I landed my feet against the cliff-side and let the shockwave run from my legs to head. Wincing, I tenderly shifted myself to turn around and stuck my webbing laden back against the rocks, further securing myself against falling to the ground and also from the girl's enthusiastic ideas.

Hilda gave me a concerned frown, "you okay?" I-I'll live, thanks. She sighed, "for a jungle boy, you're sure pretty wimpy." Excuse me? It's been years since I entered civilization. What do you want me to do? Wrestle a Charizard? She snickered, "well~" N-No! Forget it! Forget I said anything! "Okay! …For now at least." She informed me, her eyes sparkling with mischief ridden schemes which bode ill for my well-being. I laughed at my future self, not because I found his peril amusing, but because it was best mental defense I had against the ticking time-bomb in my arms. Godspeed, future me. Godspeed.

"Hey, so, umm, c-can I like, call you or something?" Hilda asked, her eyes looking away and pointed looking at the foliage of a faraway tree. "Can we be friends?"

I frowned at her. Why bother befriending me? I have nothing to offer you. Team Plasma's been beaten, I've failed my destiny, and you've thoroughly trounced me. I pursed my lips and stared at the sky. I'm… just a pawn apparently. I chuckled. All my relationships in Team Plasma… Fake. All my teachers, bodyguards, friends… even my caretakers… I… I don't even care if anyone gives a damn about me. I just wanted to see more smiling pokemon. Happy pokemon. Pokemon which raised me when I was a vulnerable child.

I took a deep breath and sighed, holding back a sob as my throat burned something fierce.

How can I ever repay them? Haha. Self-mocking chuckles escaped me. How can this failure ever repay the family which gave him life? I grinned at Hilda. Hey, you know what? Maybe Ghetsis is right. I am a freak-

Hilda turned to me and narrowed her eyes, "hey, Natural Harmonia Gropius. Just because you gave yourself an edgy nickname like N, it doesn't make you a freak, okay? I think it's pretty cool."

…w-whaaat?

My eyes shot wide-open with panic.

W-Who told you that name!

Hilda blinked. "Huh? Natural Harmonia- m-mmph!"

Shh!

I shushed her, slapping a palm over her mouth and snapping my neck around in a flurry, searching for anyone who might have overheard. Thankfully, only trees bore company to the sordid revelation of my embarrassing brand. I-If word gets out of this, then I'll lose all my carefully built sophistication and mystique!

Can you see anyone taking a guy called Natural seriously? (Apologies to any other comrades called Natural of course.)

I whipped my head back to Hilda and repeated my question. Who told you this?

"M-Mmmph!"

I narrowed my eyes. I've never heard of this 'M-Mmmph!', but it sounds like one dastardly individual. In any case, Hilda, you must not breathe a word of this to anyone else. My charisma depends on it!

"P-Pah!" She knocked my hand off her mouth and spat out some air, rubbing her mouth against the back of her fist and glaring at me. "…you can't be this stupid right?"

I smirked back. Brilliance is often mistaken for madness by those less discerning. For example, what foolishness possessed me to imagine that an unassuming girl who was a part of a crowd in one of Team Plasma's rallies would be worth keeping an eye on. A plain, ordinary, and completely uninteresting girl, who probably thought that wearing a cap made her look cool. I smiled at Hilda's narrowed eyes and low growls. Yes, Hilda. It was I who made you. I who set you upon your path. I who ultimately foiled myself! I rubbed my chin and had a good chuckle as I marvelled at my own genius. I invented the very foil which would help confirm or disprove my beliefs. So, frankly speaking, today was my victory. I grinned at Hilda. What say you to that?

Hilda asked with a genuinely curious look, "do you know the definition of insanity?" I was about to answer but she continued, "it's when you challenge the girl who kicked your ass every time you asked for a rematch. But that's fine, I like your spunk, kid." …w-wait, I-I already learnt my lesson, let's just calm down and- "Nope! Too late! I'm already fired up!" C-Come on! I don't want to fight! "Aww, why? Aren't you a Natural?" A-Argh! That stupid name! I winced at the mortal blow she struck while she barked a laughed. She then jumped off my arms using my shoulders as leverage, kicked her feet against the cliff while grabbing a hold of me, pushing us with one sudden jerk and then-

Snap!

The threads which held us, already put under much pressure and tension by then, snapped and we soared through the air once more, me shrieking with fright as the air above the ground slapped my cheeks soundly for playing hard to get, while the girl laughed loudly while sitting on my back.

I whipped my head back at her with abject frightened fury.

Hilda! Are you insane?!

"You're the one who made me, teach. So I guess we're both insane!"

D-Darn it! I cursed to myself. If that's true then it means that I'd planned this myself! But I didn't see this coming! Dear god, even my genius is blind to how genius it is. So mired in the maze of its own brilliance that it gets lost. Possessed of such unfathomable depths that would leave the abyss wanting. Then that means… oh no… oh no-no-no! That means I can't trust myself! I don't know what I'm up to! I don't know what I don't know what I'm up to! What does that even mean?! Who knows! I don't!

And that's terrifying!

Whoosh!

Zekrom then suddenly dove before me, flying down alongside us with a trail of thunder blasting out his tail, speaking with an irritated face, "what the bolt are you doing jumping off the castle-?"

N-No! Stay away from me! I covered my face with my hands to ward him off. I can't be trusted! Save yourself, Zekrom!

"…the hell?" Zekrom squinted at me with bemusement.

Hilda rubbed the back of her head, "Yeah… sorry, I think I broke him." She sighed, poking the back of my skull and driving her finger into it, "at least he doesn't think he's god or something-"

I'm god?! Why didn't anyone tell me! So that's why I wanted to remake the world in my own image! It all makes sense now! The pieces are all falling into place!

Reshiram, who'd joined us in our downward descent with a blazing trail of fire behind her, snorted and grinned at Zekrom, "congratulations, Zekrom. Yet another mad ruler to add to your collection." She gave me a pitying smile, "poor boy didn't even last as long as the last one. Tell me, boy, how far up the clouds is your head now that you're rejecting the truth?"

I sneered at her. Foolish mortal! Reality is whatever I want it to be!

Reshiram had a hearty laugh at that, "goodness, your mad kings are as amusing as ever, Zekrom." Zekrom grumbled and looked away with an irritated face. Turning to Hilda, she spoke, "girl, left unchecked he'll soon be lost to his delusions. The shock of today's events was too much for him." She gave me a side glance, "finding out that your life is a lie is bitter medicine to swallow." She looked back at Hilda, "bring him down to earth before he becomes a bother." Hilda scratched her head in incomprehension. Reshiram sighed and turned to me, "boy, translate."

Ask and ye shall be given! For I am a benevolent deity! Nay, the Primordial Alpha! Nay, the very manifestation of Order and Chaos itself!

After relaying my heavenly words, Hilda said, punching a fist into her palm, "got it! Just gotta knock the stupid outta him!" I smiled gently upon the non-believer. Oh dear Hilda, there you go again with the impossible dreams. How? Just how can you hope to make a splash in the ocean of my transcendence? She shrugged, "I dunno? Flash back to ten minutes ago and recall our final battle?"

Haha, flash back to ten minutes ago she says-

My mind inadvertently flashed back to ten minutes ago as I followed that line of thinking. And the sheer trauma of flashing back to that flashback in my flashback forced my mind to flash forward to the present as a defence mechanism, kicking me out of my thoughts and bringing me back to the Spark-Park amusement park in Nimbasa City.

Shining lights, bustling people. Joyful yells, the electric hum of park attractions. A Pichu themed roller-coaster ride, with yellow carts which had jagged black and yellow ears and a happy pink-cheeked electric mouse's face on their fronts. A carousel of plastic, mountable Luxrays, Manectrics and Zebstrikas, which went round the centre and moved up and down to the happy squeals of the children riding them. A spinning tea-cup ride, only with glass domed, hollowed out glaring Voltorbs and grinning Electrodes playing the part of tea-cups, as the people sitting inside spun along with their pokemon themed cups, both around the centre of the cup and the centre of the plate upon which they moved.

It was full. The entire park. Filled with people waiting in long lines, chock-full of children who dragged their parents along for the ride. Park employees bowing in apology to upset guests that the rides queues had reached their maximum capacity. It was packed, replete, with no inch spared of occupancy.

I frowned.

It was so popular.

So captivating.

The people so enraptured that they pay for attendance. Judging it to be worth their time and money. How easy it is to capture people's hearts. Give them what they want and they can't wait to dispose off their money in your pockets. And the makers of this amusement? The ones who built this gathering of merriment, the ones who created this garden of gaiety.

How they sculpted their creation to the whims and wishes of their visitors. Paying heed to every want and desire, regardless of how foolish, boorish or tasteless it was. Regardless of how unthinking, unoriginal and lacking in meaning it was. A random assortment of attractions, goodies, lights and shows, all meant to wow in the most assured and thoroughly researched way of wowing that was known.

A sneer came unbidden to my face.

How pedestrian.

This attraction has no soul. It is pure commerce. And I allow that not all attractions are soulless, but at the end of the day, they only prosper if they sell. What a word. Sell. If your creation is saleable, then it means it has a price. And the very presence of a price makes it cheap. You know why? Because that means I can buy you. I can buy and buy and buy, and depending on how much I buy or not, I can either make or unmake you.

You're so cheap.

Is it not foolish then? This craze for the fashionable, the popular, the hot topic of the moment. How many wonderful works have gone unnoticed because they didn't bow to the mandate of money? How many people went unsung because what they felt in their bones wasn't what others wanted to feel.

Image. Image. Image.

It is all an image.

No ideals.

When you start worrying about impressions and not meaning, it is an image. When someone's looks on TV matter more than the soundness of their arguments, it is an image. When you worry about arriving at a destination and not striving towards it?

An image.

Images are popular. They're seductive. Highly attractive women smile for the cameras, striking men give you that roguish grin. Sounds, graphics, song and dance, all of them subordinated in this spectacle of unthinking.

Hah. I turned to the lady working the reception-desk. How do you feel about my assessment of the institution you serve, my dear woman?

She sighed as she flipped a page of the magazine she read, "sir, your number to board the roller-coaster will come up in some time, please wait and stop preaching at me because you're bored."

Graah! I threw my ticket to the ground in frustration.

Damn this world of show business! Why does it have to be so popular! I scowled as I picked the ticket up and blew on it to clear the dirt. I'd set off with Zekrom and Zoroark early in the morning just to make sure we got a spot on the ride, but what do you know? I glanced at my ticket. Apparently I'm two thousandth in the queue. I turned to the monitor splayed on the wall behind the reception-lady. The counter for the roller-coaster ride ticked in the one-hundreds.

I sighed and stomped over to the chairs lined against the wall, settling down into one and crossing a leg over the other. What a cavalcade of activity it is, this city of Nimbassa. Baseball stadiums, music halls, amusement parks, and shopping malls. No wonder they call this place Unova's nexus of entertainment, its fun-house of frolics. And if the busyness of this theme-park is a small microcosm of the delectable dishes of distractions it serves up to its salivating spectators, then this city's fame is well-earned.

…feeling an itch in my insides, a scratching, burning kind of itch, I hunted for my Xtransceiver and surfed over to my poketube channel. My heart beating in anticipation, and my mind racing with expectations of my latest video, 'Pokemon Breeding: Is it rearing or eugenics?'

1560 views, 10 likes, 69 dislikes, 3 comments. And I think I lost a few subscribers.

…why? My face scrunched with disappointment, as my fingers gripped the Xtransceiver tighter. Why don't people like what I say? What is so wrong about what I say? And what did I say? That breeding is eugenics for human profit? That giving away the laid egg to whoever pays the most is akin to selling babies? Hah, I chuckled. Maybe I should have stayed off from discussing what would happen if humans were put in a similar situation. Take a man, take a woman, breed them, and then take away the baby.

Hmm, I can just feel the horror and disgust creeping into people.

Haha, oh so now breeding becomes some unspeakable crime? Only now does it become eugenics?

Oh well, I shrugged. What's another unfairly judged video among the dozen others I've got in my channel. I then opened the more detailed statistics of the video and confirmed what I suspected. Ninety percent of everyone watched only the first minute out of a whole thirty minutes. My… my throat burns a little… all that effort, gone to waste.

I sighed and leaned back in the chair, covering my face with my hand and pressing hard upon it. It stings. I-It stings that I'm not even given a chance to explain myself. No, I'm not some inhumane monster who'll steal your children and stomp down humanity. I'm just a man who wants to share his perspective and hopefully have a civil discussion.

Why can't anyone see that?

My eyes trailed down to the comment section, seeing the 4 comments which lay there. Let's see what these commenters saw-

CherenTheProfessor- 'That was a long one. Had to find enough time away from my classes to fit this in my free time. I guess I won't be visiting a pokemon day-care anytime soon :| …damn, I don't think I can see the proprietors as kindly old men and women anymore… brr. Overall, good video I guess, but I've seen way better. I almost fell asleep to your droning. Try harder would you?'

I chuckled, why thank you, my friend. Your backhanded compliments are as refreshing as ever.

Greatness-Is-Nateness!- 'Guys guys guys! I left the dislikes at 69! Do NOT hit that dislike button! It's perfect rn! XD! Sorry, guy who made this vid, I couldn't resist :P.'

I rolled my eyes. Okay, ignoring the juvenile.

BlueJustice- 'To be frank I'm just using you to keep an eye on Zekrom. If you're reading this Zekrom, know that the Swords have their eyes on you. It will do you well to remember the Oath of Tranquility. Any hint of war will be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly. Watch yourself.

'And N, it would be a disservice to your efforts to not acknowledge your words, so hear my thoughts. Humans treat us as something lesser than themselves. For all your awe and love, you would laugh at the idea of us holding the same regard and standing as your species. If I tell you that Chargestone cave is my possession and that I plan to build a haven for the Joltik which reside there while barring all humans from entry, you would look at me as if I were crazy and accuse me of being violent, avaricious and self-serving.

'To that I would ask humanity to look into the mirror and tell me what they see.

'And regarding breeding… haha, you gave me a good laugh, child. Very interesting points which I will sleep deeply on. You have my thanks for speaking about our plight, N.'

I blinked, rereading that whole comment two or three times. Why do I get the impression that it was written by a pokemon? …Strange. Some people have odd hobbies.

Krrrr.

I looked up at the low electric hum which slowly approached me, and soon came out of a corner Zekrom, flying a few inches above the ground and heading towards me with Zoroark hanging off his shoulder and waving at me with a grin.

I glanced at the people nearby and the lack of screams assured me that Zoroark's illusion around Zekrom was holding up well.

Thud!

Zekrom landed heavily before the bench I sat on, and then growled at me with a bored face, "so, are you done with your joyride for which you hauled us across the region?" I explained the situation, to which the dragon slapped his face and groaned, "oh Arceus, I will revert to an orb if we spend even a second longer in this city."

Zoroark tilted his head at Zekrom, speaking from where he hung off his neck, "you don't like the pretty lights and fancy food?" He looked at the crowds bustling about, "we'd probably have fun too if we do as the humans do."

Zekrom scoffed, crossing his arms, "if you want to drown in pleasure by my guest." He shook his head, his eyes glaring at the general surroundings, "easy, convenient pleasures are complete rot." Glancing at Zoroark's confused face, the dragon continued, "think, fox. Given an endless supply of highly amusing things, what would become of your life? As much delectable meat as you could eat, as many gullible fools to ensnare with your jocular illusions as you wished."

Zoroark grinned, "that'd be great! Life would be a blast!"

Zekrom nodded, "yes, it would, wouldn't it. And I'd have you in the palm of my hand for the rest of your life." He spared the fox a cruel grin, "I will consume your mind from inside-out, all the while you busy yourself with my offerings." He turned to me, "get them dependent, get them used to it, so much so, that taking it away feels like they lose a part of themselves."

I frowned, saying, "so, convenience is killer?" Zekrom smirked, telling me to continue. "And convenience leads to a loss of strife, and loss of strife leads to-"

"A loss of ideals?" Zoroark finished with a frown, looking unsure.

"Hah, correct." Zekrom gave a crooked smile before his face became serious. "Popularity, fame, celebration. The congregation of thoughts around very specific entities leads to fanatics. Or as you humans now call it, fans." Uh, I don't think that's quite true- Zekrom bowled over my words, "this preference for particular qualities leads to a narrowing of tastes, which can then be easily and conveniently preyed upon by greed for money." He glared at me, "popularity does not have staying power. Ideals and conviction do. "

You… want me to stop making videos, don't you? I scowled at him. I'm trying to make a change-

"It doesn't work that way!" Zekrom barked harshly. "You are too different! Too true of purpose!" He shook his head harshly, making Zoroark yelp as he was swung along, "you're waiting for a one in a million chance of grabbing someone's attention! You're trying to be popular! " I growled at him, standing up and stomping closer. I'm doing what I can! The only thing I can! Zekrom rumbled as he towered over me, "decide. Do you want to be celebrated? Or do you want to be a hero?"

What? They're the same thing-

"They are not." Zekrom shook his head, "one can easily be replaced. The other stays." He turned his neck up and glared at the sky, "one can be made by mortal meddling. The other is chosen by immortal forces." He grinned at me, "forces which we are oh so familiar with." I… Ideals? Zekrom smiled and flicked my forehead-

Gah!

Whoosh!

Bang!

…o-ow.

I groaned as that flick had shot me off the ground and dumped me back on the bench. I scowled at the dragon as I rubbed my sore behind, you could have just said my guess was right you know?

The black dragon nodded, "it is your choice, N, the road you choose to walk. I am only your companion for as long as you live." He plucked Zoroark off his shoulder and put him down on the ground, "but that does not mean I will excuse your cowardice." Zekrom gave me a disappointed frown while I raised a brow. What cowardice? I regularly face the cops whenever they show up to imprison me. Did you see me quake-? Zekrom shot his hand through the air and pointed at a big metallic circle with cabins attached at its edges. "Very well, a ride in the giant circle called a Ferris wheel should prove your bravery then-"

I had a quick glance at my watch.

Oh would you look at the time, we should be going before the sun sets-

Zoroark put his arm around my shoulder and held me in place with a mocking grin, "what's wrong, brother? Afraid a little Miss someone might show up again?" Z-Zoroark, come on. You're being ridiculous. Zoroark sighed, "aw dang, and here Zekrom and I thought we'd deal with that girl once and for all. Get a victory over her you know?" I blinked. V-Victory? You mean it's possible?

Zekrom and Zoroark grinned as one, their laughs sinister.

"T-Tell me!" I all but demanded, grabbing Zoroark's shoulders and shaking him with frenzied eyes, "tell me the secret to beating her!" Tell me before she pops by to spend time with us again! Actually, how does she keep doing that! I'm happily minding my own business in a jungle and then-

"Guess who's baaaack~!" She'd sing at the top of her lungs while seated on Reshiram's back, looking at me like how a hungry Liepard would a spooked Buneary. And then I'd do my best impression of a headless chicken as I run away screaming. "H-Hey! Come back! I just wanna hang out!" She'd pout and then start throwing rocks at me, "and why don't you pick up any of my calls! Jerk!"

"Political marriage. That's the solution."

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts at Zekrom's words. I stared at him, not processing what he just said. Am I dreaming it, or did he just-

Zekrom rumbled with a scheming smirk, "come now, don't go queasy on me. You heard what I said."

O-Oh… S-So we're resorting to human sacrifice now-?

Zekrom continued, while I began planning a pilgrimage to attain inner peace before I lose that capacity forever, "in every tale of Kings and Queens, there always arises the necessity of alliances." He chuckled, "you know what they say, if you can't beat them, marry them." S-Such joy you derive from my misery… You are not going to be my best man… Best pokemon?

Zoroark chimed in, grinning ear to ear, and going on a completely different tangent, "N! You ever think about why she always seems so happy to see you?" I shrugged. The thrill of the hunt perhaps? Zoroark shook his head, "no, dum-dum. We Zoroark usually pick up young Zorua and raise them in the fur here," he said, pointing to his bushy hair. He grinned, "you know how those tiny brats are, always playing pranks and throwing illusions our way just to get their attention. So maybe this is a ditto?"

I frowned at Zoroark, "what… what are you trying to say?" I turned to my reflection upon the glass ceiling, idly running a hand through my ponytail, "she wants to get in my hair? I… I think she's already accomplished that."

Zoroark crossed his arms and nodded sagely, "yup, exactly the same thing with Zorua." Okay? How exactly does this relate to me? Zoroark tapped his head with his claw, "think, N. You're an adult now, a fully grown Zoroark like me." He smiled, "so now what does that make the girl?"

A… A Zorua?

"Bingo! And now connect the dots, brother!" Zoroark barked with a snicker. "A Zoroark and Zorua meet in a city." Yes, I suppose we did. "The wise and cunning Zoroark guides the rash and loud Zorua." She… She is a monster of my own making. Zoroark chuckled, "do you see it, brother? Do you see your hair-biting Zorua?"

Hilda… Hilda's my Zorua?

A-And I'm her Zoroark?

So, this means…

This means!

I whispered to myself in amazement,

"Oh my god, I'm a father." And then I had another revelation. "Oh my god, I'm her father!" I blinked dumbly, t-then what was all that about marriage-

Zekrom boomed with conviction. "Yes! And through matrimony we'll forge a bond as strong as steel! We shall lay our stamp upon her! Turn her strength into our own!" Zekrom laughed like a mad dragon, throwing his head back and roaring, "oh the tales of blood and iron! Of loyalty and treachery!" He grinned at me, "the girl will be dragged into our clutches by the pull of family and love, as both her father and mother brandish the flag of House Harmonia!"

…Just curious. Who's the mother? Zekrom raised a brow. No, seriously, who's the mother. Zoroark snickered and patted my back, while pulling a picture out of his hair and showing me Hilda's older doppelganger who smiled in it. Hmm, right, I think I get the gist of it.

I let out a pleasant smile at the two pokemon and began, "you two have completely lost your minds if you think I will-"

Zoroark wondered out loud, "hey dragon, what would you call the power to ground a bratty kid?"

Zekrom crossed his arms and nodded, "power. Unlimited power." He smirked, "power which doesn't come cheap, mind you. But just imagine, telling her to go to her room and having the satisfaction of her actually listening. " Zekrom sighed wistfully, "and that is but one of the joys of parenthood."

Something… Something deeply parental stirred deep within me at those words. A beautiful something which I just had to acknowledge.

I continued with my pleasant smile at the two pokemon and resumed, "you're mad if you think I won't go on a knee for that wonderful woman who single-handedly raised such a splendid girl." I frowned with great sorrow, shaking my head, "now I see why Hilda so doggedly pursued me, so happily chasing me with an outstretched hand, afraid that I'd disappear if she so much as blinked."

Zekrom and Zoroark looked at me with concerned frowns as they spoke, "why, N? Why?"

"It was a desire to call me her something." I smiled sadly, "it was a desire to call me daddy. "

Pfft!

Snrk!

Zoroark and Zekrom pinched and pulled each other's cheeks as their mouths trembled with the effort of suppressing something.

Zoroark managed to snort out, "d-don't laugh, dragon! My brother is s-so damn serious! H-Haha- O-Oww!" He yelped as Zekrom pulled harder.

Zerkrom had a hand covering his face as his shoulders shook, "p-perish the thought, fox! H-How could I ever laugh at such a b-beautiful conviction- B-Bwhahaha-! Graah!" Zekrom jumped with a cry as Zoroark's shadow spikes bit him from below.

Hmph. Non-believers. I will show you the strength of a hero. Without another word I marched squarely towards the Ferris Wheel, got in line, waited my turn, and then sat myself inside the cabin, still sporting a smirk as confident as when I'd begun my journey.

C-Creaak!

I idly observed the moving scenery as the cabin moved up with the spin of the Ferris Wheel. Hah, what was I so afraid about? That she'd randomly pop in? I chuckled to myself, turning to look at the seaside view of the window and instead finding a cap wearing, brown haired girl sitting beside me and waving a greeting with a grin…

"Hiii~"

"Guess who's baaack!"

"Ya ready for this?"

…Would it help if I said no?

The grinning brown haired girl shook her head with giggle, a girl who'd apparently been sitting right beside me while I'd been staring at the scenery and taking in the sights like a buffoon. Hilda gave me a Sharpedo's grin.

"Nope! Let's get ready to rumbleee!"

She kicked off her seat and dove at me!

I cursed and ducked under her, letting her fly over me and tumble to the floor with a squawk. I inched away from her, my eyes warily scanning the surrounding for the best manoeuvre- And I quickly found my answer. I eyed the girl as she rubbed her head with a groan, pouting at me. I grimaced with indecision. Am… Am I resolute enough to go through with my plan-?

"Do it, N!" Zekrom roared from outside the Ferris Wheel. Staring up at me from ground-level with a hard stare. "Believe in yourself! Conquer your fears!"

I smiled. Yes, I suppose I should. I smiled sadly at Hilda. Sorry, but I'll have to cut short your fun. My eyes hardening with resolve I grabbed the palm-sized dice which I hung down my belt and let loose it against my target!

Crack! Shatter!

"You'll never take me aliiive!" I roared triumphantly as I broke the glass of the cabin and dove out! Guarding my face with my hands as I jumped through the cracked glass and soared in the air outside the Ferris Wheel!

Hilda sounded gobsmacked as I saw her blink at me with incredulous eyes from the edges of my vision,

"H-Holy shit, brother! It's just me! Zoroark!" And somehow Hilda's voice morphed into Zoroark's. Is this a new tactic of hers?

Zekrom gave me a thunderous glare and stomped the ground, "what the hell is wrong with you! You're supposed to face her! Not flee her!" He then blinked as people began screaming and pointing their fingers at him, he scowled at them, "ah great, thanks for making me expose myself."

A woman in blue, Officer Jenny, then rushed onto the scene from the sea of people yelling in fright and running away from Zekrom, shouting into her handset, "all units report to the amusement park immediately! I repeat, report to the amusement park immediately! Zekrom has been sighted!"

"Tch," Zekrom spat as he stared at the cops in blue make a perimeter around him, giving him wary looks as they popped their pokemon out and slowly began closing in. Zekrom looked up at the Ferris wheel, "fox! We're leaving!" Blast! The cops and their pokemon yelled as Zekrom's explosive take-off flung them away. Zekrom flew up to the Ferris wheel cabin where Zoroark jumped out and caught onto the dragon, "we'll come back for you, N!" Zekrom said as a parting roar before he exploded towards the sky in a shower of yellow sparks.

I put my fingers in my mouth and whistled,

Fweet!

And then a moment later-

"Tranquill!"

A flock of grey-feathered Tranquill flew up from the trees in the amusement park, flying towards me and then two of them plucking me out the air as they latched their talons onto my shoulders and flew me in their grip.

Officer Jenny glared at me and directed her force's attention at me, pointing her hand at me with a vicious snap, "that's the fugitive! Don't let him out of your sight!"

I chuckled and spoke aloud for her benefit, spreading my hands in a flourish, "ladies and gentlemen! And now for my next trick, I shall go-" Wait for it… " N -visible!"

A moment of silence and then-

"Aaah… Chief, do we have to chase this guy?"

"I-I can feel my brain melting…"

"Goddamn it, N! Everytime! You think this is funny?! I-I'm losing my mind here!"

I laughed at the cops who groaned, cursed and glared at me with suffering stares. With all my benevolence, I smiled as I assuaged their fears, "come now, nothing wrong with a little N-sanity." Their fractured stares fractured some more as they collapsed to a knee, the breath knocked out of them by the punch of my words.

"Oh look, we got ourselves a Kek-leon over here, hah!" I blinked as I heard that chortle in a crowd of tortured moans. And observed as a black-haired, red-nosed, clown-costumed woman snickered to herself.

And then I saw a sight which made me double-take. It was Officer Jenny, standing tall and smirking at me with an unaffected face. What? H-How? The sword of my tongue has been rendered ineffective? "You think I wouldn't take precautions after our previous encounters, N?" She turned her head and proudly showed me the ear-muffs which adorned her head, "now with these, there's nothing stopping me from bringing you in!"

I smirked. Nice try, officer, but we both know you're too good a cop to let that stop me. And I spoke this time with no sound leaving my mouth, but just my lips flapping, 'dear officer, I'm afraid those muffs cannot stop my voice from reaching you,' I chuckled, 'for my words are ear-resistible.'

Her victorious smile lasted for all but two seconds and then-

"D-Damn it!" She grabbed the muffs and threw them down with a frustrated roar. Officer Jenny glared at me, "how the hell did you know I can read lips!" I smiled mysteriously. Elementary, my dear Jenny. I'm the sharpest shooting dra- gun around here.

"…To hell with it. Get him!" Officer Jenny snapped her hand down and her force shot out a flurry of attacks at me, flamethrowers, hydro pumps, bullet seeds and much much more. The clown-girl who'd laughed yet again at my words had stopped laughing at that, looking at the cops as if attacking and interrupting me was an abhorrent crime.

Ah well, I had my fun. Time to bid the good officers adieu. I looked up at the Tranquills. An Agility please?

"Quilll!"

They screeched! Rapidly flapping their wings and then-

Swip!

We disappeared in a gust of wind.

"Find him!" Officer Jenny immediately roared, as the Tranquill quietly deposited me in a garden of trees growing some distance away from the cops. I ducked in the bushes observing them. The Officer growled and stomped away, barking orders into her handset, "set up a perimeter! We're not letting him escape this time!" Good luck with that. Zoroark made sure you never got a good look at my face with his illusions, and I always took care to always stay a good distance away from you. So unless you're my poketube channel's followers, I doubt you'd recognize me if I act like a harmless and innocently whistling civilian minding his own business-

"Strika."

Feeling my back being prodded by a snout and being washed by warm breath, I turned around and saw a zig-zagging and black and white furred Zebstrika standing behind me and looking at me with a scowl. "Zebstrika," he said, looking behind as if calling someone.

And then a feminine voice began speaking, "well, well, well." Thonk! Thonk! A hand from behind the trees and knocked on the bark, " wood you look at that? If it isn't the King of Unova himself." I leaned forward and saw behind the tree the very same clown-girl, looking at me with crossed hands and leaning against the tree. "What brings you to Nimbasa?" Her foot tapping restlessly and her face trembling as if suppressing something.

"…Oh?" I stood up with a wary face, slowly inching away, "I don't know who you are, but you'd do well to back off-"

"Ah, sorry for cutting you off but, huge fan of your work." An interested smile broke out of her face's tremors as she chuckled. She beamed at me like a person who wasn't used to beaming, "that execution, that confidence! That self-assured smarm! You have to tell me your secret!" She bounded forward and gave me an eager smile, "how do you do it? Even when you know people will hate it, how do you do it anyway?" She looked a little down, "I… I don't know if I can do that… Doing something which only you believe in, doing something for yourself," she shook her head, "at least not as confidently as you."

Wha…. What is this? I blinked at her with wide eyes, taking a step back at the force with which her words hit me. What is this feeling? This sudden beating of my heart.

I… I have a fan?

An honest to god fan?

M-My efforts weren't in vain?

She blinked, "are you okay?" I waved her off, looking away and wiping my face with a kerchief. "Is… Is that the first time someone said that to you?" Her incisive insight made me turn to her in wonder. She let out a dull smile as if recalling the past, "it's just that… I have a lot of fans, but the first time someone outright says that to you? I don't think I ever forgot that moment." She sighed, rubbing the back of her head, "though it's a pain trying to keep their attention and staying relevant. Always have to be on top of things." She shrugged, "take that as advice I guess?"

Staying relevant?

Fickle mindedness…

Images.

You're talking about images.

You're talking about being popular.

I want to be popular.

And from what I gather…

You want a taste of conviction.

Of Ideals which carry you steady.

I smiled at her and put a hand out,

"I am N. And I be- leaf we can teach each other a thing or two."

She chuckled and clasped my hand, giving it a firm shake, "call me El." El tilted her with a small grin, "actually, we should have met much sooner. When do you think we should have?"

The challenge in her eyes alerted me that this was no ordinary question. And so my reply was no ordinary answer. I eyed the sleeves of her clown-costume for a moment and then smirked back, "jester-day I presume?"

El snickered, "got it in one! You are good!" She pursed her lips in thought, "hm, so what should I call you? Teacher? Master?" She raised a brow, "King?"

I winced. I… I don't want to go there again. But I will be imparting my wisdom… Akin to a fox teaching a kit… So in that case,

I smiled pleasantly and lifted her hand to my mouth, kissing the back of her fingers like a gentleman introducing himself to a lady - her smile instantly blanked out at that, as she stared between me and her palm with confusion - and introduce myself I did, heeding the wise words of Zekrom and Zoroark about the nature of the bonds that bind us.

I chuckled at El,

"Please, call me daddy."

She stared at me with incomprehension for a second, before her face become increasingly animated with stunned disbelief and then-

"W-What?!"

Huh? I wonder why her face is so red?


Author's Note:-

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Would love to know your thoughts!

Have a great day.

Stay safe.

Cheers.