Despite everyone ending up relatively okay, Iris, along with Alder and Cheren, were taken to a hospital in Striaton City, and the others regrouped at the triplet's restaurant. There was a sense of happiness and accomplishment emanating from everyone. Any animosity that people had once had towards N had now evaporated and was completely forgotten. He was now a full member of the team, welcomed into the group with open arms, though Touko did her best to monopolize him.
The pair had taken up a quiet corner and were deep in conversation, both wanted to know what had happened after they had split up. The only reason why Bianca was not taking every opportunity to talk was because she was with Cheren making sure he did not run off in the middle of his treatment.
"So, what happened after the Pokémon Center?" N asked after taking a sip of his tea.
Touko swirled her own hot mug and studied it. "Bianca and I made it out and we flew north. I'm not quite sure where we stopped; it was a plateau of some sort with a forest on top. I'm not sure if we would be able to find it again, it was so dark out. We made camp for the night and when the sun came up, we continued on. We met up with the gym leaders and Zoroark joined us and we finally made it to the castle where you caught up. What about you? What happened to you after the Triad attack?"
N sighed and looked to the side for a moment before turning back to Touko. "I guess I was the greater target because the Triad ended up following me into the night. It took quite a bit to actually get away." N's thoughts darkened; if it had only been that simple. What he did not want to tell her was that after going east, out of the city, he had been chased through the woods on Route 16 and made it to Marvelous Bridge only to end up on a cliff edge next to the bridge and fall off. It was the only way for the Triad to actually lose him. If it had not been for Carracosta, N would have likely drowned in those waters. The thought brought a chill down his back. He saw Touko's worried expression and smiled. "I lost them on Route 16 then headed north from there." In fact, he and Carracosta had swum north the entire night and well into the morning hours to end up near Route 11, where the pair had collapsed on the shore around Village Bridge. A person that lived there had found them and, not recognizing N, had fed them and given them a place to rest before N headed off again for the castle in the evening. "I flew in from the east when my team and I got close and that is how I caught up."
Touko was frowning, it seemed there was at least a day's gap missing from what N was saying, but she did not want to push him. He sounded so weary talking about it that it must have been much rougher than even he wanted to admit. Touko placed a hand on N's right hand and smiled. "Well, you're safe now and that is all that matters."
N smiled back. "Yeah, I guess."
At that moment, the doors to the restaurant opened and Bianca walked in. She was alone, which was no great surprise. She walked right past N and Touko and sat down, hard, in a chair between the two of them. "I can't believe how big a baby Cheren is. Three nurses had to pin him down so that they could give him IV fluids." As she spoke, tears started to slide down her face. "…Big baby… doesn't want to get better…"
Touko placed a gentle hand on Bianca's shoulder as her friend began to sob. N looked at Bianca, unsure if he should stay or go. Slowly he stood up. "I'm gonna go an—"
Before he could start to move away, Bianca grabbed the bottom of N's white tunic. She looked up at him with a weak smile on her face. "I want to say something to you." N winced slightly, every time he had heard that phrase in the past, it had not been for anything good. Bianca took a deep breath. "Thank you. Thank you, N for helping us. If it had not been for you, we never would have been able to get Cheren and Alder out."
N blushed. "It was nothing."
Bianca shook her head. "No, it wasn't nothing. You could have ran and saved yourself the trouble of dealing with all of this, leaving us this mess. But you stayed. You really did help save them."
N's face turned an even darker pink. "Well… uh… You're welcome… I guess… It was the least I could do. I mean…" He let his voice drop away, leaving some of the most important things unsaid.
At last, Bianca let go of N's shirt and let him walk away so the girls could talk. He found himself aimlessly wandering around the restaurant, unsure of what to do now. As he passed the different gym leaders, they waved at him and N waved back.
After a few minutes, someone called out to N. "Hey, sugar, what are you doing all by yourself?" N turned. Lenora was sitting at a table with her husband, Hawes, with tea and little sandwiches.
N smiled and walked over to them. "I wanted to give Touko a chance to talk to Bianca."
"Well, why don't you join us, then, N. We are happy to have more company," Lenora replied, patting at a seat between her and Hawes.
"Thanks," N said sitting down in the chair provided to him.
Hawes was looking nervous; the little man seemed rather uncomfortable here, a feeling N could easily relate to. "Dear, are you sure I should not be at the Museum? I mean, there are so many things I could be doing there."
Lenora laughed. "Oh Sweet-pea, don't worry about the Museum. I have all the junior trainers set up to make sure that nothing gets stolen while we're here. Now, why don't you just relax? The boys have made the most wonderful tea today."
Hawes smiled sheepishly. "You're right, dear. I should try to relax. You're safe, after all." He took a sip of tea and sighed, and then turning to N, he said, "So, any word from Alder and that boy?"
N shook his head. "I am afraid not. Bianca was with Cheren before coming here and they seem to be in recovery."
"Drayden told me that he was making Iris stay overnight for observation; after all, she did fall quite a height, even if she was caught by the old man's Druddigon," Lenora added.
Hawes nodded. "Makes sense. So, what do you think you will be doing next?" The question was directed at both his wife and N.
The pair looked at one another before N replied, "It's too soon to really have a plan. Ghetsis needs to be stopped, but we can't go rushing in."
"We also can't do what we did last time," Lenora replied. "Those back entrances will be heavily guarded now."
N felt his mood slowly decline. It was becoming clear that they were going to soon need a new plan for stopping Team Plasma, but it was complicated now. N really didn't want anyone else to get involved. Part of him wanted to just face his father alone; the gym leader and Touko should not be part of this fight.
"Well, this has become depressing," Lenora said. "Why don't I see if the boys have any desserts ready for us."
"Sounds like a good idea, dear." Hawes replied.
N stood up. "Thanks, but I should go."
Lenora's brow furrowed. "Go? Go where honey?"
"I don't know yet. But I need to do some training."
"I don't think that is a good idea, son," said a deep voice behind N.
"Drayden!" Lenora cried. "You're here! How's Iris and Alder?"
"Hello Lenora. They're both fine, but Alder wants to see N and Touko," Drayden said, his voice even.
"Why does he want to see me?" N asked, confused.
Drayden shrugged. "Not really sure. Said he had something important he needed to share with the two of you. Said it would help you beat Ghetsis, possibly."
N's eyes grew wide. The Champion had a tool that N could use that could possibly stop his 'father'. "Great, I'll head over right now."
"Wait a minute, boy; Touko needs to hear this, too," Drayden said coolly.
"I need to hear what?" Touko asked, joining N and his group.
"Whatever Alder wants to tell you two. He would not give me any specifics, just said that he needed to talk to the two of you. Like a conference, just you three," Drayden explained.
"I see," Touko said, slowly looking over at N with a look on her face that was almost impossible to read. "Let's head over there, then."
N nodded. "Alright, let's go."
And with that, the two left for their meeting with Alder.
End of Chapter