The wind whistled in Touko's ears as she and her dragon raced after N and his. "N!" she called, knowing he could not hear through the wind, but she did not care. " Zekrom speed up, we need to catch them!"
Zekrom roared in reply and sped towards Resharim and its trainer.
N looked over his shoulder when he heard the wind change. "... Resharim slow down..." The large white dragon roared in reply and slowed its wings.
"N!" Touko called as she finally caught up with N. He turned and looked at her, annoyance clear on his face. "Look I know this looks bad..."
"'Looks bad', Touko? 'Looks bad'? Touko this is more than 'looks bad'. My father... your dad... killed because of... that monster... HOW CAN YOU EVEN LOOK AT ME?" N was shaking. "I am the monster he created, I am a part of him. He is a part of me. Part of this is my fault... If I was never born..." Tears began to roll down his face.
Touko nudged Zekrom so that she could reach N from the dragon Pokemon's neck. She frowned and cupped N's face "None of this is your fault. Ghetsis is a monster but you are as human as they come. You fought against his plans as soon as you knew that it was wrong. You're a good person, despite everything you have been through. And now you are needed, I need you, to help me stop him. Yes, Alder made a mistake but listen to me. I am not interested in revenge. I'm interested in making sure that no more people or pokemon get hurt. I can think of no other person I'd want to fight beside other than you."
"Touko..."
"Shh, shut up and kiss me," Touko whispered.
N smiled weakly. Gently he placed a hand on the back of her hand and pulled her closer. Their lips met slowly and fiercely. When they finally pulled away after what felt like hours but in reality only a few moments they were both breathless.
Touko grinned. "Let's go back now. We have plans to make."
N nodded "Alright." And with that, the four of them flew back to Striaton City.
Bianca and Iris stood outside the gym restaurant, their eyes on the sky. "When do you think they will be coming back?" Bianca asked, half to herself.
"Not sure." Iris replied, "I still don't fully understand what happened or why they flew off like that."
After a few more moments of worrying Bianca pointed, "I think that's them!"
Iris looked up and covered her forehead with her hand to block out the sun. "I think your right! Touko, N!" she called as she ran forward towards the pair of heroes, Bianca at her heel.
The pair of dragons landed and the two trainers slid off as the two girls ran towards them. Bianca quickly pulled Touko into a tight hug.
"What were you thinking, running off like that?" Bianca said looking Touko straight in the eye.
"You two had us really worried," Iris added, her hands on her hips.
"Sorry about that we just needed to work some things out," Touko explained, nudging N's shoulder with her own.
"What she said..." N said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Bianca and Iris looked at each other than at the pair of heroes. It was beyond clear that the two had been at the Hospital, likely talking with Alder, but what was spoken at that meeting seemed to be a topic not for the group. Iris shrugged, "Well at least you're back now. We were planning on having a meeting on a new strategy."
As they began to walk, Touko suddenly said "Hey Iris, are you sure you are alright?"
"Oh yeah, the doctors gave me a clean bill of health. Uncle Drayden actually picked me up a little bit ago." Iris explained. Touko nodded.
In the back of Touko's mind, she could feel herself wanting to groan. Still, she and N walked hand in hand behind Bianca and Iris. Bianca had a new bounce in her step since Cheren's safe return, even if he was acting like a trantrumy toddler in the Hospital. Touko felt N's hand tighten around hers. What Alder told them would likely be of interest to the rest of the league but what it meant to them now... This was just one thing she wished they could keep to themselves.
The four entered the Gym Cafe and paused. Everyone was gathered around a group of tables that had been squished together, even Touko's mother and... "Touya?" Touko walked towards her older brother, stunned to see him.
Touya was about a head taller than Touko and two years older. He was wearing a blue windbreaker and a red and white baseball cap with a black Pokeball in the center. His hair was as wild as Touko had ever seen it. "Hey, there little sis. Heard about your heroic actions and thought I could be of some help." He said as he gave her a hug.
"Touya how did you get here? All the roads are blocked off and the trains..." Touko started.
Touya laughed "You forget sis I have been training on the battle subway for the past two years. I know my way around those underground lines almost as well as Ingo and Emmet now. Hell, the two of them took me under their wing and plan on making me a boss there someday."
Touko stared at her brother in awe. She had not imagined after all these years... A huge smile crossed her face. "This is wonderful. We might now be really able to stop Team Plasma." She hugged her brother again. Now, this fight no longer seemed quite so daunting. "Oh Touya, thank you."
Touya laughed "You thought I would let you get all the glory sis. Big brother is here to save the day."
Behind the two siblings, N coughed. He had been standing there awkwardly, watching the family reunion, not sure what to say or do. Touko turned, pulling away from her brother slightly. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she looked at N.
"Right, I almost forgot, Touya this is..."
"I know who he is." Touya interrupted and strode straight into N's personal space. N winced. "Mama told me about you. How you saved Touko at the castle, how you have been fighting with her, despite..." Touya stopped himself.
N was bright red by this point. "Yeah well... Touko is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She was a friend to me before I knew humans were good."
Touya nodded "Well okay then. But I want to make sure you know, you ever, EVER, make my little sister cry, or hurt her in any way. I will kill you." Touya thrust his hand towards N, "What do you say?"
N looked at the hand, hesitated for a moment then took it, shaking it firmly. "I understand."
Touya smiled. "Great!" Touya turned back to Touko who had been watching with a shy smile the entire time. "You picked a good one sis."
Touko laughed, "Yeah I guess, but N has always had a good heart. I just needed to help him figure out what the world was really like."
Touya nodded once at his sister then turned back to N, wrapping an arm around the green-head's shoulder. "Come, take a load off. I'm sure once you hear what I know we will be able to come up with a plan to stop your crazy old man."
Touko could see just how uncomfortable N was becoming. It was clear that this closeness was bringing on serious issues. N's breathing was becoming sharp for one thing, and he was moving rather jerkily. Quickly Touko stepped in between the two, gently pulling her brother off of N. She wrapped her arms around both of them, N quite loosely so he could escape, and said in an accusatory tone to her brother "Well don't keep us hanging, oh clever one, come on and tell us."
N breathed a sigh of relief and as smoothly as he could walk a few steps ahead of the siblings and sat down in a free chair. This day was starting to be long indeed.
"Well since you insist. Gather round, everyone." Touya said. Touko quickly sat next to N as everyone else started coming around to what was clearly a large group of tables that pushed together to create a massive table. Touya stood at the head of the table in front of a wall with a map of the region on it. Everyone who was there sat at the table and stared at the young man. "As you can see we have been cut off from mainland Unova..." He pointed to the Skyarrow bridge. "As this bridge has been destroyed and the forest to the north is too dense for safe navigation. But underground the rail system is not so. In fact, it is still being used..." And Touya began to explain how Ghetsis and the Plasma grunts had to some amount taken over the rail lines, but that there were still tunnels that could be used to get from one point of Unova to another without detection. Soon plans were made to get around using the tunnels that Touya knew and using the help of Battle Subway bosses, Ingo and Emmet, they could take out a good chunk of Plasma's resources.
By the time the meeting was done everyone was tired but excited. This was the first time in what felt like ages that simple good news was in their hands. And that is the feeling that Touko and N felt as they left, hand in hand, with the strength to fight another day.