Chapter 15: Defending Dreams of Atonement! Welcome to Driftveil City, the City of Hotels and Ambitions!
"Once upon a time, there was a girl who was transformed into a Swanna. One day, she met a prince and fell in love with him. He invited her back to his kingdom, but the curse would only let her be her true self at night, and so, the girl refused. Even though the prince's world was within her grasp, she instead looked on and wondered what it was like to be a part of it."
N and Touko set off early the next morning. Both Kyouhei and Mei have left Nimbasa City already, and after checking in with the owner of the Musical Theater and Elesa one last time, they decide they should get to the next city before lunchtime.
On Route 5, they bump into a maid who has somehow surmised that Touko has a stash of desserts from other regions. After exchanging some of the sweets for breakfast, they enjoy a brisk stroll on the Driftveil Drawbridge, a massive crimson bridge spanning across the waterway separating west Unova from the central peninsula. A flock of Ducklett flies overhead, hovering over the structure on a gentle sea breeze. Occasionally, a Ducklett will pick at its plumage, and a feather will detach from its body, floating down to the bridge below.
As N slowly eats his breakfast, Touko stares at the open ocean. When he sees her with a soft grin as the wind brushes at her ponytail, he follows her gaze, sharing in the view.
"I've met a Charizard on my journey," she suddenly brings up.
He wonders why she would mention this out of the blue, but he decides to indulge her. "What are they like? They must be as fierce as they look."
"Oh, definitely. Did you know that if they've been in really tough battles, their flames burn hotter? When it's not in battle, it's a really majestic Pokémon. They have these huge wings and a long tail. I can see why the people who built this bridge also called it the Charizard bridge."
Ah, that's the reason why she brought it up. N softly grins, "You must have seen many different kinds of Pokémon. I also want to meet more Pokémon and more people."
A combination of the casual mood comfortably sitting over them, the recent revelation of Touko's dream, and the fact that they're on a bridge compels N to turn to his travel partner. With a determined grin, he firmly states, "In the time you were on your journey outside of Unova, I've found new ideals to dedicate myself to. I will become the bridge between people and Pokémon and help this world take a step closer to true coexistence."
Touko lowers her head and takes a moment to assess his convictions. Her silence slightly unsettles him; it's hard to tell if she does or does not approve of his ideals. But N meets it head-on because, regardless of whether or not she accepts his new dream, these ideals are born from his own hands. He needs to convey this truth to her.
When she looks back up, her lips are curved into an undeniably proud smile. However, her eyes are fogged, and he is reminded of the pictures back at the Musical Theater.
"That's a great dream, N," she says.
The Driftveil Drawbridge ends on a small island inhabited by one bridge supervisor, a resident out on a walk, and a gold statue of a ship's sail. Touko's not sure if the gold is real or fake, though. Another bridge made of concrete connects the island to the rest of the city. So far, everything is the same as she remembered, but once she steps onto the bridge, it's as if she has crossed into another world. The streets, which were once just common asphalt, are now strips of tiled stone, bordered with smooth concrete. The orange-roofed houses from three years ago have been upgraded to emerald-colored hotels. Touko catches a glimpse of two fancier hotels with ivory-tinted walls: one near the Pokémon Center in the middle of town, and another south of the marketplace, which can be reached by walking straight from the bridge down to the edge of town. To her left, the entrance to the underground highway is still closed off by a blue and white road barrier.
Everything is so...luxurious.
"Wha?" Touko blurts dumbly, "Is this really Driftveil City? And you said you live here?"
N can't help but chuckle at her reaction, "For the time being, yes. Although, I would not say that it's a home so much as it's a temporary respite from my travels. I do plan to find a place to call home in the near future."
She snaps out of her stupor. "I bet it's gonna be a place in the woods, where you can be close to the wild Pokémon. Or maybe high up in the mountains."
"Maybe, but I fear that having a home so far from civilization would clash with my dream. I've tried using my old castle, but Mei physically dragged me away from it and forbade me from ever staying there. She said it was depressing that I even considered living there."
Touko's skin crawls when N mentions his castle. The memory of his room blinds her, and for a split second, she is back in that cursed place, consumed by the emotions she felt when she pieced together the truth of N's world.
She takes a deep breath in order to ground herself back to reality. "You shouldn't go back there, N. You're free now."
"I won't. Don't worry." His words are filled with promise, and they're punctuated by the reassuring smile he gives her.
"Where would you settle down?" N questions, intentionally changing the focus to her.
"Ah…" Touko finds herself unable to give a definitive answer. It always has been one thing after another: start her journey, fight Team Plasma, train, travel, find N. Sure, she had admitted to Mei that she wanted to slow down, but she hasn't expanded on the idea yet.
"I'm not sure," she replies, "I think living in a big city is too much for me, but at the same time, a place like Nuvema Town is too quiet."
He nods in understanding, "Then perhaps, on this journey, we can find the answer to this together."
Oh no. Her face is starting to overheat, her mind invaded by a fog of giddiness. How in the world can he utter such simple yet meaningful words without batting an eye or wanting to shrivel in a hole? And that carefree smile! He probably doesn't know what kind of effect that damned grin has on people, on her!
"This is so unfair! He's always been this sincere, but still! He needs to watch what he says, or else people are going to get the wrong idea!"
"Do not be mistaken, Touko. I swear upon my title as the dragon of truth that he means-!"
"D-Don't you dare finish that sentence!"
They head to the Pokémon Center to check into a room, but they are quickly informed that every room is occupied.
"Ever since the Pokémon World Tournament stopped its operation, most of the trainers who visit immediately try to book a room here," Nurse Joy explains, "They say that the cost of staying a night at one of the hotels in the city is way too much. This wasn't such a huge problem when we were still hosting tournaments."
"How big of a deal is this place?" Touko ponders.
"Clay invested heavily into its conception," N answers, "The hotels that you see were created to house all of the trainers who were participating. That included gym leaders and even champions from other regions. If I recall correctly, Mei was one of the first participants, along with Hugh, Cheren, and Colress. After their tournament was aired on television, trainers from all over flocked to the city for a chance to fight some of the most powerful people in the world."
"I see. So the trainers believed that the prizes and fame they could potentially get from the Pokémon World Tournament would offset the cost of staying in the hotels. That would explain why some of the gyms we visited were closed."
Touko's heart sinks a bit. Yet another thing that she missed while she was away from the region. "How come they stopped? What's going to happen to the facility?"
Nurse Joy cluelessly shrugs, "I'm not too sure why the city stopped hosting tournaments. There have been rumors of Clay wanting to start up another tournament circuit. I remember seeing some businessmen surveying the city about a month ago, talking about some new prospects for the facility. Anyway, I recommend booking a room in one of the nearby hotels. There's actually one that just opened for business, and it's perfect for two people who want to share a room together. You'll find it behind the marketplace, right next to Route 6."
Touko raises an eyebrow. What kind of hotel specializes in two-person rooms?
"Thank you for your help," N says, "Let's go check it out, Touko."
She may as well take a look at the place. Shoving aside her skepticism, she nods and follows N out of the Pokémon Center.
Touko regrets everything.
The hotel they are looking for is only a block away from the Pokémon Center and looks the same as the other buildings of its kind. But when she observes the place closely, some things are suspiciously different.
She takes a quick jog around the hotel and notices how it has no windows. When she approaches the door, which is facing the forest border of Route 6, she can't peer into it. There's barely any noise inside. No rumbling of suitcases or footsteps echoing on tiled flooring.
"I-Is this place really a hotel? I don't think Nurse Joy would send us to the wrong place…"
"Wait, Touko. We have seen this kind of building before. There was something similar in Goldenrod City, but it was tucked in some obscure corner of the city."
"Have any ideas what this might be?"
"...I think it is best if you discover the truth for yourself."
With a sigh, Touko steels herself. When Reshiram says that line, it won't give her the answer, no matter how hard she begs. She presses a hand against the entrance and says to N, "I'm gonna take a quick look inside. Wait right there."
He seems to be deep in his thoughts, but he has enough awareness to absentmindedly nod at her words. Touko steps inside, and for the second time today, she wanders into a completely different realm. A scarlet rug on top of light purple flooring beckons potential guests to a hot pink curtain, hung up to hide something of rectangular shape inside of it. In front of the curtain is a high table with a tablet and an electronic sign that's most likely used to display prices. To her left is a statue of a school of Luvdisc, with two bigger Luvdisc at the center kissing. A polished, dark wood coffee table and a set of chairs are tucked against the lilac wallpaper to her right. The lobby is dimly lit, save for the flickers of pink and purple roaming across every visible surface.
Touko creeps closer to the curtains and takes a glance at the tablet. She sees a selection of rooms with a range of themes: underwater haven, excessive pink, and tropical getaway to name a few. Despite the vast differences in atmosphere, all of the rooms have one thing in common.
There is only one bed. A king-sized bed.
It only takes Touko a second to realize the kind of place she has stepped into.
"T-This is a love hotel!"
"Correct."
"B-But-! Wait, that means Nurse Joy thought that N and I-! She really suggested us to-!"
"I must admit that she made a rather bold assumption. Humans avoid mentioning places such as these for various reasons. Perhaps this is more of a tourist attraction than an actual love hotel."
"S-Still! How am I supposed to explain this to N?!" Touko unzips her bag and quickly shuffles through its contents. Her hands come back empty-handed. "I'm not ready to tell him about the Pidoves and the Combees! I haven't made the flashcards yet! W-What am I going to do?!"
"I do not know what to say. I have told you many times before to prepare them. You know that this was inevitably going to happen."
She begins to tremble, her pointer finger lingering over the tablet screen. Now that the truth has set in, she begins to notice the more naughty details, like how in one of the rooms, there's a bottle of lube along with several strings of purple beads. In another, an array of handcuffs are laid out on a table beside the bed. One of the closets is open, displaying a full rack of fetish costumes ranging from Lopunny cosplay to the more standard maid uniforms. And the beds...they suddenly seem so appealing. She can even see herself getting lost in the world that the rooms attempt to create with N by her side.
A mental image of N holding the beads up and asking her, "Will you teach me how this works?" with that eager and trusting grin nearly makes her scream. Because she knows that if he ever asks her something like that, she won't be able to refuse him.
Or rather, she doesn't want to refuse him.
Touko is about to pull her hand away from the tablet when N's right hand yanks her away. With a tighter grip than expected, he leads her to the exit, not bothering to take in his surroundings.
"Huh? N?!"
"Let's stay at another hotel. You're too young to be in this place."
His tone leaves no room for argument. As they head back outside, Touko's mind struggles to process the implications behind his words over the sea of desires still swirling around. Finally, after he guides her north to a worn-down, religious building on top of a small hill, it dawns on her.
"He knows!"
N breathes a sigh of relief once he's in the vicinity of the church-like house. His grip on her slackens, but he doesn't release her wrist just yet.
"That was too dangerous for my liking," he thinks, "I should have realized sooner what that place was. But to think she would consider us staying there for a night...This really drives home the fact that, between the two of us, I must be the responsible one."
"Uhh, N?" Touko speaks up, "Isn't this a church?"
He's grateful she has decided to not question him about anything related to what just happened. "It used to be. This is the adoption center run by my former Team Plasma allies. I thought we could visit them first before securing a place to stay for the night."
Observing the relic of a building with an unreadable expression, Touko moves her hand so that she's clasping his. She squeezes once as she takes a deep breath.
This is all N needs to understand where her thoughts are going. Returning a squeeze of his own, he says, "I want you to talk to them and see the strength of their convictions for yourself. I'll be right beside you."
She flashes him a small grin. "Okay."
"One more thing. Visitors have to be greeted by Galvantula, so keep that in mind when we walk in."
Upon entering the building, Touko discovers that the building's interior is much nicer than its exterior. She steps onto a doormat, a large, white rug with a tan border, before planting herself onto the gray, diamond-patterned flooring. Two dinner tables are placed to her left, each surrounded by four teal chairs. Some of the seats are occupied by people, some dressed in normal work clothes and others in Team Plasma uniforms. The kitchen is set up in the top-left corner of the room, right next to the dinner tables. A Team Plasma grunt is washing dishes, assisted by a Pidove putting away the porcelain. There's a staircase in the back leading to another room. Touko's attention shifts to the other side of the lobby, where she sees a large play area. Hugh and a burly hiker are watching over a group of Pokémon playing tag with each other.
Touko takes another step, and a yellow, arachnid-like Pokémon with six eyes suddenly drops down, hovering over the floor. Even though N has warned her before, she still tenses and almost releases a shriek. N predictably isn't fazed by the Pokémon's sudden appearance. He waits for Galvantula to finish observing them before he reaches out to stroke its head.
"I-Is this how Galvantula scans visitors?" Touko manages to mumble out.
N shakes his head, "No. Usually, Galvantula makes its presence well known before it lets visitors in. It was just really excited to see me. Thank you for watching over this place while I've been gone, Galvantula. You're doing a wonderful job."
After clapping its feelers together, the Galvantula pulls itself back onto the ceiling and crawls away. By now, everyone in the building notices their new guests.
One Team Plasma grunt greets, "Oh, Lord N! You're back! Oh...and-!"
The cheerful atmosphere in the place dies when they register Touko's presence. A long and awkward silence hangs over them, but neither party is willing to break the ice. That is until a man with thick and well-groomed facial hair, dressed in a brown robe held together by a pin of the Team Plasma logo, climbs up the stairs and says, "Where are your manners, everyone? We all knew this day was coming, so we must welcome the heroine of Unova with open arms."
Touko can't help herself from tightening her grip on N's hand.
"Sage Rood," she names. The old man makes no comment on their joined hands.
"Welcome back to Unova, Touko," the sage folds his arms out in a welcoming gesture, "How is your journey with Lord N so far?"
"It's...been fun," Touko answers as she slackens her posture, "Unova's changed a lot."
Rood nods in agreement, "Of course. The region is moving forward from the scars left behind by Team Plasma. We, too, have been doing our best to make up for our past deeds. That is the purpose of this adoption center."
The heroine takes another sweeping glance across the room. All around her, she observes the interactions between the former Team Plasma members and the Pokémon. From the way they do chores together to how comfortable the Pokémon are approaching their human caretakers, Touko doesn't need N's ability in order to see that there is an abundance of love and support here.
"I know we were enemies before," Touko starts, "And I probably scare half of the people in this room. But a lot has happened since then. As long as you want to make the world a better place for both people and Pokémon, then I will help you out as much as I can."
The ex-Team Plasma members are rendered speechless. Is this really the same trainer whose gaze was filled with so much hatred and anger that she resembled a feral Pokémon? The same person who shoved aside their ideals with nothing more than a single attack?
Rood is the first to recover. After a passing glance between Touko and N, his expression softens. "You've grown since our last encounter. I was worried for just a moment."
Touko cracks a bittersweet grin. "You don't really need my approval."
"That may be true, but it is comforting that we do. Lord N would have been very disheartened if you rejected our way of supporting his ideals. But enough of this heavy talk. Come. There are other people who also want to talk to you. You'll find them in the back room."
The heroine separates herself from N, and after seeing a reassuring nod from him, she walks past Rood and heads down the stairs. The room she finds herself in is a bedroom with a brown tartan floor. There are three twin beds, each covered by a brown comforter. They're pushed up against three short chests, which have a vase of local flowers on top. Aside from the beds, the only other pieces of furniture are two metal closets, tucked away on the other side of the room.
The minimalist design makes the two ladies waiting at the center of the room stand out. One has light pink hair and is sporting a green shawl, a pink apron, and a white dress that reaches her knees. The other has blonde hair, some of it fashioned into two pointy hair antennas. She's wearing a blue blouse, a yellow apron, and a white skirt that matches with her roommate.
"Anthea, Concordia," Touko gasps.
The pinked-haired woman, Anthea, greets her with a friendly grin. "Congratulations on reuniting with N, Touko. It's a relief to know the two of you are getting along."
"Yes, a huge relief," Concordia adds, "We were so worried that N would mess up somewhere on your journey together."
"N's been great!" Touko immediately responds, "If anything, I'm shocked at how comfortable he is with interacting with other people. I didn't think he could crack a joke until literally yesterday."
"N has many different sides to him, just like everyone else," the pink-haired woman reminds her, "If you are able to see those sides of him, then his heart is opening up to you."
The heroine slowly nods and then places a hand over her chest. Gratitude sparkles in her eyes. "I never got the chance to say this, but thank you for giving me more insight into N's past. Back then, your words helped me figure out what my truth should be. If it wasn't for your guidance, things would have taken a turn for the worst. For both me and N."
While Anthea simply closes her eyes, Concordia shakes her head, "It's us who should be thanking you. We did not understand N's ideals at the time, and as a result, we were unable to comfort his troubled heart. I'm really glad that he is able to find his own happiness."
"I...I am, too…" Touko's face morphs into an expression that dredges up past memories for the sisters.
It was mere minutes before the fateful battle. An unfamiliar girl walked into their quarters. Anthea beckoned her to let her Pokémon rest for a moment, and as the young trainer gave her name and watched them take care of her party, they noticed something.
She was carrying a heavy truth within her, one that she most definitely had chosen to carry, even as the weight of it threatened to crush her. But no matter how defiant her gaze was, it could not deny the fact that her eyes were swollen red.
And so, to soothe her heart, they told her of their brother and the world he had lived within this castle.
A series of harsh door knocks snaps Anthea and Concordia out of their recollection. They hear it open and then swiftly slam shut. Hugh informs everyone that those people are back and asks Rood what they should do. N demands to know what's going on.
"There is a certain matter we have been keeping from you, Lord N," the sage reluctantly admits, "Come with me, and you'll see what I mean. Everyone else is to stay inside and continue with your work."
Touko turns around at the commotion. "What's going on? What are they talking about?"
Anthea frowns, "I was hoping we would resolve this before the two of you arrived here, but that is not the case anymore. Go to them, Touko. Maybe you and N can help us out of this predicament."
When Rood and N head outside, they are greeted by three businessmen all sporting a flashy red suit, red sunglasses, black gloves, and a belt with an emblem of a wispy flame, with hair as red as their clothes. Because of the sunglasses, N finds it hard to read their expressions.
"How kind of you to answer the door for once, Rood," one of them muses, "It seems we don't have to bust our way in this time. Repairing it must be getting too expensive."
N already does not like the impression he's getting from them.
"Who are you?" the former king questions, "What do you want from this place?"
Like a speech prepared to convince the entire region of their ground-breaking idea, the trio of oddly dressed men elaborately begins to explain the reason for the disturbance. They claim to be Clay's newest business partners hailing from the Kalos region, wanting to create new tourist attractions to gain revenue for the city since the Pokémon World Tournament is currently out of commission. After scouting the city out, they believe that the location that the adoption center is currently on is the perfect place to build a casino that can stand as the new "lighthouse" of Driftveil City.
Rood looks less than pleased, having heard their plans several times too many. "My answer has not changed. I refuse to hand this property over to the likes of you. No amount of money will move me."
"Uncooperative as always, Rood," one of the businessmen chastises, "It would be best if you cool it before you end up like your namesake."
"Cool it? You are the ones refusing to back down!"
The door behind N and Rood opens, and Touko barges her way through, standing in between the two parties. Her curious stare hardens when she sees the businessmen, and she even goes so far as to pull out a Poké Ball from her bag.
"What the hell are a bunch of Team Flare grunts doing in Unova?" she interrogates. The killer intent behind her words makes the businessmen shrivel on the spot, despite never meeting her before.
"Team Flare?" N echoes.
"They're an organization that wreaked havoc in Kalos, like Team Plasma. I had a few run-ins with some of their members when I was there. But get this! Their leader tried to activate an ultimate weapon that would wipe out half of the world's population! All so he can create his perfect world! If you ask me, he was someone who tried to choose other people's fates for them! I can't stand that kind of person!"
N instantly pales, while Rood steps forward, making his defiance even more pronounced. Staring down two people who are ready to beat them out of town, one of the Team Flare grunts tries to downplay the sudden exposure of their identities.
"M-Miss, that's all in the past. We are mere businessmen now."
Touko's glare only intensifies. Her arm swings back, poised to send out her Pokémon, but N gently grabs the Poké Ball in her hand to stop her.
With a pained frown, he says, "As appalling as it is to know that they followed a person who intended to destroy the lives of both people and Pokémon, they could have been misled by their leader. Let's listen to what they have to say."
"But they're just self-serving assholes!" Touko snaps back, "Lysandre, their leader, promised the people who joined Team Flare that their lives would be spared if they helped him achieve his goal. They don't really care about him. All that matters is that they're not the ones on the other side of his ambitions!"
Trying to stir the conversation back in their favor before their image is further tarnished, one of the grunts boldly, perhaps foolishly, proclaims, "And how is that any different from what these people are doing here?"
His words silence the heroine as she points her glare at his group again. "Don't think we haven't done our research. We know this place is run by former members of Team Plasma. A bunch of delusional Pokémon thieves rallying under the notion of Pokémon liberation. I've heard they even had a king who befriended the legendary Pokémon of this region. Whoever that Pokémon is, it sure doesn't care about the welfare of people or Pokémon at all if it decided to side with an organization like that. And you want to tell us that they should be allowed to be near Pokémon, much less run an adoption center?"
N feels his blood stir with the first signs of anger. It's one thing if they insulted him or his allies. They can criticize their intentions all they want; he and everyone else has prepared themselves for the public's skepticism. But to drag Zekrom into this-!
Touko must have been thinking the same thing because she demands that they take those words back. Rood's form begins to tremble.
"I understand that everyone's opinion of our adoption center is still mixed. We will not deny what we did in the past. But we truly believed in Lord N's ideals! We still do! Our goal to create a better world for Pokémon has not changed. We will not let you slander the names of both our king and the legendary Pokémon!" the sage fires back.
The attention of the three ex-Team Flare members is drawn to the green-haired man, who is now looking down at the ground, the rim of his pink cap covering his eyes. To them, the female trainer and the old man are going to be impossible to convince, but him…
"Not everyone on Team Flare supported their leader's goal. Some discovered the true nature of his plans by unfortunate circumstances and were then coerced into the organization. Imagine being presented with two choices: join Team Flare with the assurance that your life will be spared or be eliminated because you know too much. There's really only one answer, is there? But now that Team Flare has disbanded, we want to move on. Just like you, we have the same desire for atonement. So enough of trying to take the moral high ground. I'm afraid this issue is simply a matter of clashing desires."
He ignores Rood's and Touko's suspicious gazes and proposes to N, "Let's settle this in a Pokémon battle. You against one of us. If you can defeat us with the legendary Pokémon, then we will leave this place alone for good. But if we win, we will buy this adoption center at the cost of our original proposal."
"What utter insolence!" Rood exclaims, "First, you drag the legends of Unova through the dirt, and now you have your sights set on taking the legendary Pokémon down as well?!"
"Don't count me out!" adds Touko, "I'll do to you what I did to your former teammates!"
"No. I want the two of you to leave this to me," N finally says. He lifts his head and stares at the ex-Team Flare members head-on. "Maybe you are right. Both of our histories contain mistakes we both want to correct, and this conflict is merely a struggle between our differing ideals. If that is the case, then I will stand up for my friends. I'll accept your challenge, but I would like to change the terms a bit."
"Oh?"
N closes his eyes and admits, "Currently, Zekrom is with another trainer. I asked my friend to accompany her and help her with her dreams. But I do not need Zekrom for this battle. I will defend my friends' dignity and ideals with my own strength!"
The ex-Team Flare members almost laugh out loud at his declaration. Even as they stay mostly composed, their malicious mirth is present in their confident posture.
"You let go of a legendary Pokémon? That's the craziest thing I've ever heard in my life. Very well! We'll be back in two days' time to settle this."
With a pivot of their heels, the businessmen depart the city. As Rood watches their retreating forms with a steely frown, N exhales and then turns to Touko. She still has a scary expression on her face, but it softens once she registers the determination in N's eyes.
"Help me train," he beseeches.
She answers without hesitation. "You got it."
Out of everyone involved with the adoption center, Mei is the last person to know of N's upcoming battle. When she lands in Driftveil City the next morning, she enters the adoption center with a spring in her steps.
"Gooooood morning, everyone!" she loudly exclaims, expecting the staff to collectively greet her back. When she receives a less-than-enthused response, her cheerful mood sinks a bit. She takes another glance at the lobby and notices four ace trainers, two male and two female, discussing something around one of the dinner tables.
Sitting down at the end of the table, Mei greets, "Oh, Castella, back already? And...Melanie, Kol, and Blake, too? I hardly ever see you guys in one room! How's everything so far? Did you find any abandoned Pokémon?"
One of the female trainers, Castella, shakes her head, her teal pigtails slapping against her face, "I don't know about the others, but I barely got to my location before Lord N called us back here."
Mei frowns. That's odd. While the staff clearly reveres N and is willing to follow him even now, he is less of a leader and more of a volunteer. A fellow co-worker. "Speaking of, where is he? He should have arrived at the city with Touko yesterday."
"They're training in Route 6," Hugh answers. He's leaning against the kitchen counter, chewing on a donut.
"Training? Did Clay manage to start up the PWT again?"
Mei's rival snorts, "I wish. Ugh, just remembering what they said about N and Zekrom is making my blood boil. It's like they're asking for a beating."
"Who?"
"You know those businessmen who've been trying to buy this place out? They stopped by yesterday, and it turns out that they used to be a part of Team Flare. According to Touko, Team Flare had their own crazy leader who used Pokémon for his own selfish goals."
Kol, a male trainer with fading blue hair, clutches the Poké Ball he was toying with. "They had the nerve to question why Zekrom would side with Lord N. Isn't that obvious? It's because Lord N's ideals were strong and pure. He wanted a better world for Pokémon. It's not his fault Ghetsis used him! If anything, they're the ones who shouldn't be given a second chance. I don't believe their sob story for a second."
"As you can tell, Mei, because Touko exposed their true identities, the situation escalated to the point where Lord N has to defeat them in a Pokémon battle in order to settle this for good. That's why we're back," the other female ace trainer, Melanie, says as she picks at the end of her neck-long, orange hair, "Even though I believe that Lord N can defeat those fashion disasters with just Zoroark, he wanted to have a full party just in case."
"Lord N has to win," Blake speaks up, "This place is all we have. There's nowhere else we can go. Those ex-Team Flare grunts know that and are using our past as justification to throw us out."
Kol scowls, "Do they really care about stuff like that? We've been operating for about a year now. If they had a problem with us being here, they would have confronted us much sooner!"
Mei feels Zekrom's ultra ball rolling around in her bag. She pulls the black-and-yellow ball out and stands up, "I'm going to look for them."
"Are you planning on lending Zekrom to Lord N, Mei?" Rood butts in, stopping her from taking another step.
Her grip on the ultra ball tightens. "Obviously! This is the perfect chance for them to show those goons why N was chosen as one of Unova's heroes!"
"That's not what my lord N thinks. He made it very clear yesterday that he intends to win without Zekrom. We should not undermine his convictions by having Zekrom fight."
Mei's grasp loosens, and eventually, she places the ball back into her bag. Rood solemnly looks at her. "I know what you are thinking, Mei. However, you are Zekrom's trainer now. Lord N gave the legendary Pokémon to you so that you can make your dreams come true."
She lowers her head and then opens the door. "I know that. I just...want them to battle together again."
"Ritsu, Hydro Pump! Valyn, Ice Beam! Reshiram, Fusion Flare! Aim all of your attacks at Vanilluxe!"
A stream of high-pressure water coated by rays of ice is sent hurtling towards the ice-type Pokémon. A large sphere of fire trails right behind the combination attack like a falling meteorite.
"Armaldo, Rock Slide! Vanilluxe, use Blizzard to freeze the rocks! Rapidash, get ready to absorb the Fusion Flare!" N commands.
The Plate Pokémon summons a rain of large boulders in front of him and Vanilluxe. The wall of rocks is then reinforced by a storm of heavy snow, transforming it into an icy barrier. When the Hydro Pump and Ice Beam reach the wall, the attacks don't do much to penetrate its surface. However, Reshiram's Fusion Flare melts away the ice and consumes the boulders, crumbling them into tiny pebbles. Rapidash stands in between the explosion and his teammates.
When the dust clears, the barrier is clearly destroyed, but N's Pokémon are unharmed. He lets out a sigh of relief.
Touko places a hand on her hips, satisfied with their progress. "You're really getting the hang of this, N. Your orders are more precise now. Those Team Flare nobodies are going to think twice before challenging you again! How about we go from Triple Battles to Rotation Battles after we take a small break?"
"Alright," he says, "I like the momentum we have. It really draws me in to experiment more."
As Reshiram lands next to her, she watches as N's other Pokémon all swarm around him. Pulling out her Pokédex, she begins to scan all of the Pokémon she can see.
"Politoed, Lanturn, Tentacruel, Omastar, Kabutops, Starmie, Ninetails, Arcanine, Rapidash, Shiftry, Ninjask, Leafeon, Hippowdon, Gastrodon, Cradily, Armaldo, Scizor, Rhyperior, Abomasnow, Cloyster, Mamoswine, Froslass, Glaceon. N's made so many new Pokémon friends. I wonder how he met all of them."
Amidst the fawning Pokémon, N stares at the device in Touko's hand. When she notices that his gaze is glued to her Pokédex, she quickly puts it away and flashes an apologetic smile. He frowns at her response, but it's shortly wiped from his face when several of his Pokémon hollers for his attention. Hippowdon lazily begins to chew on the end of his hair, while Leafeon and Glaceon compete to sit on his lap. Arcanine brushes his face against his cheek and licks it, drawing a chuckle out of his trainer. The weight bearing down on N seems to vanish as he continues to interact with his Pokémon friends.
Despite the cheerful mood around them, Touko can't find it within her to join in. The longer she watches, the more she feels her presence will ruin the happy scene before her. That she'll break this blissful world of his, just like she did befor-!
Touko yelps when Scoria's horns bump against her back, pushing her towards him. She tries to turn around and lightly scold the Scolipede, but her team swarms around her and helps Scoria shove their trainer to N's location. N's Pokémon make room for her, and together with Touko's party, they create a ring around the two humans.
"W-Woah! H-Hey! If you guys wanted to join in, I wasn't going to stop you! You didn't need to drag me with you!" she exclaims. N starts a conversation about the upcoming battle, and soon, she forgets about her tumultuous feelings as she invests herself into giving him every piece of useful advice she has.
On the day of the battle, N waits for the businessmen on the field next to the adoption center. Rood and Hugh are behind him, whispering to each other. Hugh nods when the sage is finished and dashes off, heading in the direction of the Driftveil City gym.
"N, you good to go?" Touko asks. Her troubled frown hasn't left her face at all today, but her harsh gaze softens slightly when N looks back with just as much unease and determination.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but remember your training. Be prepared for anything."
"Yes. I will make this battle a resounding victory for us."
When the ex-Team Flare grunts climb their way up the hill, their steps are far too lax for the stakes that this battle holds. They grin in a way that reeks of victory. If there wasn't a small crowd around her, Touko would have already wiped the heavy make-up off of their perfectly stupid faces. And maybe break those ugly sunglasses in the process.
"Control yourself, Touko. N's gonna be the one to wipe the floor with them. But if they try anything, they're in for a world of pain!"
"I do hope this can be resolved without our intervention."
The grunt in the middle steps forward and releases a Houndoom, a canine-like Pokémon with dark fur, large, curved horns, and bony ridges on its back. It lets out a chilling howl, eyeing N with malice. N can clearly hear the threat coming from its heart.
"So, you feel the same way as your trainer," the former king says to the Houndoom. He pulls out a Poké Ball of his own and lets out his Armaldo, "Let me hear of those feelings in this battle!"
The ex-Team Flare grunt takes the first move, "Fire Fang!"
Setting his fangs on fire, the Dark Pokémon sprints towards Armaldo. Unfazed by the speed at which the Houndoom is running, N commands Armaldo to use Rock Polish. The scales on Armaldo's body glow white for a brief second, and just before the Houndoom can latch its fangs onto its opponent, Armaldo sidesteps to his right.
N is quick to seize the opening. "Aqua Tail!"
Coating his tail with a spiral of water, Armaldo pivots on his feet and bashes his tail into the Houndoom's stomach. A momentary expression of shock morphs onto the Houndoom's face before it is sent to the floor, knocked out in a single move.
"W-What the-?!" the Houndoom's trainer exclaims, baffled at the discrepancy between the strength of his Pokémon and N's. His fellow business partners all reel back as their haughty demeanors drop and are replaced with fear.
N wisely chooses not to say anything and waits for their next move. The grunt recalls his fainted Pokémon, turns to his allies, and then sends out a Liepard.
This time, N gets the first move. "X-Scissor!"
Armaldo's claws glow with lime-green energy, and with a speed that's unexpected of his body type, he dashes up to the Liepard's face.
"D-Double Team!" the ex-Team Flare member hastily orders. Liepard disappears instantly, and several clones of it swarm the battlefield and the sky above. Its trainer then commands it to use Night Slash, and the sea of Liepard pounces onto Armaldo, slashing at his weak points whenever it gets the chance. At first, N's Pokémon merely raises his claws and tries to swipe at the Liepard whenever it comes close, but as the assault continues for several more seconds, Armaldo is starting to stumble. His knees begin to shake from the pain.
N quickly analyzes the situation. "Something's not right. Armaldo's ability is Battle Armor, which protects him from the high critical-hit rate of Night Slash. It should not be inflicting this much damage in such a short amount of time."
He tunes his hearing further in order to find the real Liepard. He expects to only hear one voice, but instead, his ears catch the sound of multiple growls. Sometimes, they overlap each other haphazardly or even sync up together into one vibrating sound, but those don't fool him.
"So that was their plan. They used Double Team to hide the fact that two other Liepard had joined the battle. They never intended to win this fairly." N orders Armaldo to take a defensive position, and the Plate Pokémon drops to the floor and tucks its body in. The Liepard continue their assault as the ex-Team Flare grunts mischievously grin at the sorry state of their opponent.
"Not so tough now, huh?" one of the businessmen dares to provoke N. The former king grits his teeth and closes his eyes.
"What do I do? If I accuse them of cheating, they will just deny it. At this rate, this will end up the same way as when Ghetsis fused Zekrom and Kyurem together! I have to think of a formula that'll counter this!"
As if to guide him to his answer, his mind brings up flashbacks of his training with Touko. Her actions, the unusual exercises they had done together...they all lead to a single conclusion.
"Touko must have known that this would happen. This was her way of looking out for me. So then, the key to turning this battle in my favor is..."
Armaldo stays perfectly still, tanking all of the attacks, and N hears his friend telling him that he can only hold out for several more seconds. He concentrates, focusing on the sounds of the three Liepard. Shuffling through the cacophony of claws smashing into scales and aggressive hissing, N waits for the moment…
When all three Liepard cry out at the same time.
N's eyes snap open. "Rock Slide!"
Through the bleak cavern created by his claws that cover his eyes, Armaldo's gaze flashes red as his entire body hums with a white aura. Large boulders materialize and fall from the sky, crashing around Armaldo. Three yowls soon echo across the battlefield as dust covers everyone's view of the battle. When the sandy clouds dissipate, Armaldo is standing in the middle of three downed Liepard.
"N-No way…" the ex-Team Flare grunts breath out, "Our plan was perfect. How did you figure it out?"
"Your Pokémon were the ones to tell me of your trick," N answers, "I understand now that you have no intentions of moving on from your organization's legacy. All you want to do is to fulfill your ambitions of greed."
Cowering at N's disappointed gaze, the businessmen all recall their Pokémon. Armaldo wobbles to N's side, and his trainer gently pats his back before recalling him back into his Poké Ball. N's brief smile of pride quickly disappears when he turns his attention back to the ex-Team Flare grunts.
"I've won our battle, so by the terms of our agreement, you must leave this adoption center alone."
Two of the businessmen, the ones who had intruded in their battle, look ready to book it. "L-Let's go. This place isn't worth it."
The grunt in the middle seems to disagree. "No! It's not too late! It's time for our last resort!"
The ground suddenly trembles. Judging by how violently the adoption center is shaking, the epicenter of the earthquake has to be right under it. The ex-Team Plasma members who weren't watching the battle, along with all of the Pokémon inside, rush out of the building, making sure to guide the Pokémon to a safer part of the hill. N looks over his shoulders and sees a hoard of brown, rabbit-like Pokémon popping out from the earth before heading back down and circling around the adoption center.
"We're going to build our casino right here, right now!" the businessman announces. "Diggersby, tear this building down to the ground!"
Touko's anger spikes dangerously, especially after seeing N dashing towards the adoption center, trying to talk the unfamiliar Pokémon out of destroying the place. She lets out Ritsu, who's just one command away from putting the businessmen into their rightful place. "I knew you guys were terrible people from the start, but how dare you stoop so low! I think it's time I teach you how Unova handles a bunch of dirty deceivers!"
"I'm with you, Touko!" Mei proclaims as she releases Serperior, "We won't let you get away with this!"
A loud thud crashes behind the two heroines, followed by the sound of a drill slowing down to a halt and wings flapping steadily. An Excadrill and a Flygon have rounded up the hoard of Diggersby, carrying them out of the ground like sacks of coal. A lasso then ensnares the three businessmen, causing them to yelp. Every emotion drains away from their faces as their plans finally fall apart.
"So, ya think ya can storm onto my turf and dig wherever ya like?" A bulky, middle-aged cowboy snaps as he tugs on the rope in his hands. Next to him is Hugh, looking equally as peeved.
"Clay," Touko curtly greets. The cowboy gives her a nod of acknowledgment.
"Back in Unova, ain't ya, missy? I'd stay and chitchat, but trash ain't goin' take itself out."
"Thank you for your assistance, Clay," Rood says, "You must have a ton of business to take care of. We've tried settling this peacefully, but-!"
"I don't need no sob story from ya. This is my city, and I look out for all of my fellas. That includes yer and yer staff. Yer just need to keep doin' what ya need to do."
The sage widens his eyes, evidently touched by Clay's words. Once the gym leader has dragged the businessmen away, every member of the adoption center lets out a resounding cheer and crowds around N, praising him for his battling skills. Hugh reconvenes with his Flygon, while Mei joins in the festivities by patting N on the back. The former king is caught off guard by all of the attention, but he soon smiles along with them.
Touko watches all of this from the sidelines, once again planted in place by the idealistic image in front of her. She can feel pride coursing through her; how can she not be after witnessing such a well-earned victory? But with that surge of pride comes a familiar but unwelcomed emotion. It stops her own smile from reaching her eyes, and no matter how hard she tries to shake it off, to be happy for him, it prevents her from joining the world in front of her.
"N...has grown so much. He's capable of taking care of himself, and he's even found a new world, with new ideals and new friends to support him. He never needed my help."
After Clay is done with them, the three ex-Team Flare members retreat to Route 6 with their unconscious Diggersby. They count the money they have left and discover that they barely have enough to buy food for a month.
"What do we do? We can't stay in this region."
"Curses! It's all because of that girl! Once she ratted us out, negotiations became impossible. Another month, and we would have gotten them to crack!"
"Their king is no slouch when it comes to battling. He said that he could understand our Pokémon. Ha, that's a far cheaper trick than what we did."
"Let's go back to Kalos. We can ask our former admin to recommend us someplace else."
"But Unova is one of the few regions without a casino! This is nothing more than a setback! Or are you really giving up so easily?"
"You...we will use that determination," a new voice joins in. The three businessmen raise their guards when a white-haired ninja appears out of thin air.
"W-Who are you? Were you eavesdropping on us?!"
"Who we are is not important. Now, for Lord Ghetsis's sake, become our test subjects!"
Touko heads south towards the port and takes a seat on a steel bench overlooking the sea. Even a few hours later, her heart still feels heavy. The memories of N surrounded by both his human friends and his Pokémon friends linger in her mind as if to taunt her of everything that she had missed over the past three years.
"I should have expected this," she says to nobody, but she knows that Reshiram is listening, "This is what I chose. So...why did I feel so lonely back there?"
"Your true desires are beginning to resurface."
Before she can retort back, she hears her name being called. The sound is coming from the direction of the city, and the closer it gets, the more frantic it echoes across the pier.
"There you are, Touko!" Mei says once she spots the heroine, "N's been looking for you! Why are you out here by yourself?"
Touko looks over her shoulders and ruefully smiles. "I wanted some space. Tell N not to worry about me."
"If I tell him that, he's going to worry even more. That's how he is."
"I-I know that," Touko chokes on her words, and she returns to staring at the ocean. With a small frown, Mei parks herself on the other half of the bench.
"Is there something troubling you?"
The twin-bunned trainer sees Touko internally struggle with whether or not she should spill her heart out. They silently sit next to each other, listening to the waves brushing against the docks and the sound of cargo ships departing to their destination. As the silence grows, the crushing grip on Touko's heart grows to suffocating levels. And yet, she holds it in because she can't burden Mei with her feelings, with the emotions she shouldn't be feeling.
When Mei catches the weariness in Touko's eyes, she scoots closer and places a hand over Touko's. "Please tell me what's wrong. Burying your feelings will only make you feel worse."
"I-I can't…"
"You're my friend, Touko! And if any of my friends are struggling with something, I'm going to do everything I can to help them! You feel the same way, right? So, please! Let me help you!"
Touko can't find a way to argue back. She gaps at the younger trainer, who smiles reassuringly.
"She's right. I would do the same for my friends...I would do anything for them."
"You have been carrying the weight of your truth by yourself for far too long. Even with the assistance of me and your Pokémon, you were dangerously close to crumbling under its pressure. Perhaps it is time for a different approach."
The heroine inhales and eventually says, "I actually don't get it at all. I don't get why N would be worried about me or why he cares about me. I was the one who shattered his innocence, crushed his dreams, and spat all over his ideals. It doesn't make sense why he wants me to be a part of his world, much less be his friend."
Touko's words are merciless as they denounce their speaker. Mei recoils, not expecting the harsh and bitter tone. Touko must have noticed Mei's reaction because the tightness in her lips fades away.
"I wanted to show N the world," the heroine tries to convey her feelings another way, "But I gave up on ever making that come true. I thought, as long as I get the chance to see him again and apologize to him, that I can bear with the fact that N doesn't want anything to do with me."
"Why did you want to show N the world?" Mei slowly asks.
"I-I felt it's what I had to do. I had to help him find a place in this world. But he's found that without me. The dream I gave up on came true, but I wasn't the one who made it that way. And now, I don't know if there's even room for me here. I guess this is what I get for abandoning my dream and leaving everyone behind."
Touko places her hands on her lap and clenches her fists. Her body trembles as regret consumes her heart.
Mei turns her attention back to the ocean and takes a deep breath, "When I started my journey, I didn't know who you were. The only thing I knew about Team Plasma was that Hugh's sister had her Purrloin stolen by them and that Hugh and I were going to get it back. But as I met more and more people, I've learned more about you and what you've done for Unova. Everyone thought of you as a hero. No, a legend! A lot of people looked up to you. And eventually, I started feeling the same way. I've always wanted to meet you."
"R-Really…?"
"Mhmm! And wherever I went, I kept hearing one thing over and over again. From Cheren, Bianca, Alder, your mom, Elesa, N, even the people at the adoption center...they all wanted you to come back and see what Unova has become."
Touko gasps, shock reflected in her eyes. Mei brilliantly smiles like she's resolving something herself, "Everyone has saved a spot in their hearts just for you. And the only person who can fit in that hole is you. You've given Unova the chance to dream and become bigger and better than it once was, and now, it's our turn to do the same for you. You can still show N the world, Touko. All you have to do is come up with another reason why you want to."
"A-Another...reason…?" Touko echoes back. The idea has never crossed her mind; she would have never considered it an option that existed. But, when Mei is the one who suggests it, she finds that it's not as impossible as it sounds. "A-Am I allowed to…?"
Mei immediately nods, "Of course! You deserve to be happy, too!"
It's the lack of hesitation that cements Mei's words into Touko. Her heart still feels heavy, but the weight of it has lifted slightly. The heroine adjusts her cap and gently smiles when she remembers she's wearing N's hat.
"Thank you, Mei. I think...I'll go find that reason and make my dream come true."
"Glad I could help! How about we head back and reconvene with N? The people at the adoption center are going to hold a party to celebrate N's victory!"
"Sounds good-!" Like a dead heart suddenly waking up again, a pulse of darkness spreads from within the city to the edge of the port. Touko springs to her feet and finds the nearby people on their knees, coated with a familiar dark energy. Mei's Xtransceiver goes off a second later, and her peppy expression disappears when she answers the call.
"Mei! You have to come back to the adoption center now!" Hugh frantically exclaims, "There's three Kugekis outside-!" His screen then violently shakes, "Damn it! Hurry back!"
When the call ends, Mei turns her head away. Touko suddenly has a million questions, and she doesn't know where to start.
"You're Cure Bolt," the heroine eventually states.
Mei grips the rim of her visor and then throws her a cheeky grin, with the tip of her tongue sticking out. "Bingo! Well, I knew this was going to happen sooner or later."
"Why didn't you just tell me?"
"For the experience, of course! Playing a role in front of the hero of truth and seeing how long it would take for you to figure out my true identity...it'll be feedback on how to improve my acting skills!"
Touko can't help but laugh. Mei really is dedicated to honing her craft. "I'm impressed. You had me fooled in the beginning."
Mei's grin grows wider, "Wow, really? I was honestly so nervous. You were my role model, so I was having trouble saying those things to you."
"There's a lot of things I want to ask you, but right now, we have to stop the Kugekis from destroying the adoption center!"
"Ah, wait! Can you give me your transformation device?"
"Huh…?" Despite her confusion, Touko takes out Reshiram's luxury ball and hands it to Mei.
"Alright! Now that we're fighting together, there's something that we have to do! Give me five minutes!"
Touko and Mei rush back to the adoption center and find that three Kugekis resembling Diggersby have surrounded the building. Their ears are coiled together, the tip sharpened to a point. Sunglasses made of fire hinder their sights, while an orange ember on their furry belts is burning the wool black.
Hugh is standing in front of the entrance, commanding his Unfezant to stir up a whirlwind. The gust intensifies the flames on the Kugekis' eyes, causing them to flail about aimlessly.
"Mei! What took you so long?!" Hugh scolds.
Mei flashes an apologetic grin and grabs Zekrom's ultra ball from her pocket, "Sorry! I'm here now! How's everyone?"
"Castella and Blake are chasing after the Shadow Triad, while Melanie and Kol are inside, watching over everyone."
Touko raises an eyebrow, "They aren't affected by the Kugeki's aura?"
"Yep!" Mei replies, "But we can talk about that later. You ready, Touko? Follow my lead!"
As Hugh's eyes widen, Touko firmly nods and tightens her grip on Reshiram's luxury ball. Extending their arms out, the two heroines exclaim, "Curing Fusion!"
Both transformation devices pop open and engulf them into a realm of black and white feathers. Their regular clothes shimmer away, leaving two white dresses of light behind. While Touko has hints of orange splashed onto her dress, Mei's dress is bordered with blue highlights.
Mei extends her hand out as a trail of black feathers swirls around her. At the same time, Touko is surrounded by a ribbon of white feathers. Intertwining their fingers together, they raise their joined hands up, extend their other arm out behind them, and close their eyes.
While the white feathers solidify into a set of three rings around Touko, the black feathers transform into three hexagons that encase Mei. Starting at their feet, the two monochrome shapes attach themselves to the two heroines. A pair of white boots with two yellow bands covers Touko's legs as a shorter pair of black boots snaps themselves onto Mei's feet. Black stockings ride up from the top of Mei's boots to the middle of her thighs. Their dresses materialize next, and some of the white feathers gather at Touko's hips to create two feathery protrusions. Two packs clip onto their lower backs, and two sets of wings unfold with a flurry of feathers.
As the two heroines bring their hands down so that they're at shoulder level, black feathers land on Mei's wrists and melt into two black, fingerless gloves. The last of the shapes encloses their necks and becomes two chokers, one black with a hexagon ornament and the other a plain silver color. On their ear lobes are two sparkles of light, which turn into a pair of small circle earrings for Touko and a pair of hexagon earrings for Mei.
Mei opens her eyes first, her normal sapphire irises now crimson red. Touko's eye color still remains bright blue, but they glimmer with power as if staring into them will set the seer on fire.
They separate, twirling so that their backs are facing each other. Touko feels the familiar sensation of flames extending her hair and coloring it orange. A tiara pops into existence and gently sits on top of her head. As for Mei, lightning unfolds a thick curtain of hair behind her and streaks her hair neon blue. Another lightning bolt places a black headpiece with two antennas across her head.
"The Heroine of Truth!" Touko announces as she opens her right palm, revealing a blue ember. The flame spins around her clockwise, and she follows its path, eventually catching it with the same hand it had spawned from. Bringing her right fist to her side, she drags her left hand in an arc across her forehead, as if she is trying to block some of the light, and slams it down to her left side.
"Cure Flare!"
"The Heroine of Ideals!" Mei unfolds her left hand and summons a blue lightning bolt. It bounces around Mei, creating a hexagonal shape clockwise, but she spins in the opposite direction. When the two complete their paths, the lightning bolt lands on her palm, and she stares at it for a split second before she closes her hand over it. She then sweeps her right arm across her body.
"Cure Bolt!"
They stand back-to-back as the world around them darkens. A white spotlight then shines from above.
"Truth and ideals!" Flare starts.
"Black and white!" Bolt continues.
"Now as one!" they proclaim together. With one arm curved up behind them, the two magical girls extend their other arm out as if reaching out to someone.
"Monochrome Precure!"
With his mouth hanging open, Hugh stares at the Precures. "Woah…"
For a moment, Cure Flare and Cure Bolt eye the Kugekis as they stop harassing the adoption center and turn in their direction. However, Bolt's face then breaks into a triumphant smirk. At the same time, Flare's expression morphs into one of horror.
"Yes!" Bolt cheers, "Nailed it, first try!"
Flare finds that her hands are slightly shaking. "How did we pull that off? We were so in sync; it's freaking me out."
Reshiram lands on Flare's shoulder and lifts its head up high, "You underestimate our potential, Flare. When Zekrom and I work together, anything is possible."
"I had forgotten the feeling, Reshiram," Zekrom adds, perching itself on top of Bolt's head, "This sensation is nostalgic."
"It has been several centuries since we have last fought on the same side of the battlefield. Now, it is time for us to demonstrate our combined strength!"
The Kugekis dive into the earth, using their ears as drills. The two Precures spread their wings and take flight just before the ground collapses under them. Even after gaining height, Flare and Bolt are barely able to avoid getting hit by their spinning ears. When the Kugekis drop back down, a massive tremor shakes the city. The streets are upheaved, rolling with the earthquake until they eventually break and curve upwards. Hugh falls onto his knees as a few tiles from the roof of the adoption center crash down next to him.
"Hugh!" Bolt cries out, "Head back inside! We'll take care of this!"
The spiky-haired boy grimaces as he picks himself back up. "Just so you know, I won't forgive you if you let them touch the adoption center!" he says before ducking into the safety of the adoption center.
Dark energy congregates around the Kugekis' emblems, and they fire three beams of purple fire that merge into one massive ray at the adoption center. Flare flies in front of the church-like building and meets the attack with a fiery barrier. She concentrates on upholding her shield, absorbing the flames as best she can.
"No one in Kalos will let us start over," the Kugekis wail, "So why do those Team Plasma grunts get a second chance?! Our goals were grander and more beautiful! We will destroy this disgusting sight and replace it with our gorgeous vision!"
Bolt channels electricity into her fist and zips towards one of the Kugeki. She lands an uppercut punch on the Kugeki's stomach, launching it up into the sky. In the blink of an eye, Bolt sends the other two Kugekis flying in the same way.
Flare takes the flames she has absorbed and reflects them back at the free-falling Kugekis. Her attack explodes into a cloud of smoke. "Thinking that you are superior to everyone else around you, imposing your will onto others...I've had enough of your self-centered attitude! Unless you break away from what Team Flare stood for, you'll never get your second chance!"
Before gravity drags the Kugekis back down, Bolt conjures a long strand of electricity. Wielding it like a whip, she lashes at their tails, essentially juggling them in the air.
"Everyone in that adoption center wants to make Unova a better place for both people and Pokémon!" she shouts, "They've rebuilt their ideals, endured all of the skepticism, and proved the strength of their determination! That's the difference between you and them! Flare, now!"
Flare lets the warmth of sunlight enter her. A sphere of pure white energy materializes in her hands. After cradling it for a moment, she thrusts her hand forward and unleashes her special attack.
"Precure Solarbeam Flare!"
The Kugekis predictably cannot defend themselves from the giant ray of sunlight. They are reverted back into their original forms, and the dark aura looming over the city vanishes. As Flare and Bolt reconvene, they hear two sets of footsteps coming from the direction of Route 6 frantically rushing their way.
"Bolt, they got away," Blake regrettably reports, not yet noticing the other magical girl next to her, "We've chased them all the way to Chargestone Cave, but that place is a maze."
As the male ace trainer grumbles his disappointment, Castella gasps as she lays eyes on the white magical girl. "I-Is that...Cure Flare?"
Flare takes a step back, unsure of what to do. She shoots Bolt an accusatory glare. Bolt sticks her tongue out and says, "Aww...don't give me that! Of course I would tell them about you. They're my accomplices."
"Including my true identity?"
"Please help us, Touko! With your strength, we may finally put an end to the Shadow Triad and their plans!" Castella pleads. Flare flusters at the way she addresses her, and when she discovers Blake is staring at her with wide eyes, cheeks aglow with color, the panic hits her full force.
"D-Don't just expose me like that! Someone might be listening-! And Blake?! W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
Blake scratches the back of his neck. "Uhh, well. I'm having a hard time believing that you're a magical girl. I mean, Bolt wouldn't lie to us, but seeing you like this in person is uh...this might take a while to get used to."
"Poor guy. His impression of you is completely destroyed," Bolt laughs.
Castella shakes her head. "That's not a bad thing. Perhaps this is the perfect chance for us to see the hero of Unova as something more than an icon that strikes fear into our hearts. Right, Blake?"
He nods, "Yeah. We shouldn't be afraid of any of Lord N's friends. Anyway, we should check if they're alright," Blake gestures to the unconscious businessmen, "There's a hidden grotto in Route 6 we can move them to."
Cure Flare and Cure Bolt undo their transformations, and together with the help of their Pokémon, the four trainers carry the ex-Team Flare grunts and the Diggersby to Route 6.
When the businessmen dressed in red finally regain consciousness, night has already fallen. They immediately don't recognize their surroundings, which is a small clearing in the middle of a thick forest.
"How did we get here?" one grunt asks. His fellow business partners both rub their temples, just as confused as he is.
"I don't know about you guys, but I had this weird dream."
"Hey, me too! I was jumping around, and I wanted to stop, but I couldn't! That's when two majestic angels came down and saved me! And one of them said-!"
"Unless you break away from what Team Flare stood for, you'll never get your second chance!"
The three businessmen stare at each other. "I believe we have been gifted with a revelation."
"What? Out of all the dumb ideas you've ever come up with, that has got to be the dumbest."
"No, hear me out! Those angels were sent to help us! They knew what we were going through and showed us the right way!"
"Didn't anyone tell you not to take dreams too seriously?"
"But one of the angels' names was Flare! And she was the one who told us to change our ways! I understand now! This dream has given us a much more beautiful purpose! From this moment on, Team Flare will be known as the gospel that'll spread those angels' words to the entire world!"
The other grunts are enraptured by his spirited words, finally understanding the true nature of their shared dream.
Touko enters the adoption center with Mei, Castella, and Blake hours later and is immediately greeted by a worried N. The lobby is decorated with colorful streamers and balloons; both dinner tables are loaded with different plates of raw berries and cooked dishes. The Pokémon have all assembled in the play area, drooling over the many bowls of delectable fruits and Pokémon food. Despite the two earthquakes that hit the building earlier, nothing seems to be out of order.
N sighs with relief. "Touko, you came back. I was looking for you earlier, but I must have collapsed during my search."
Touko's heart skips a beat, now very much aware of how his face lights up at the sight of her. "I-I went to get some fresh air. Those businessmen really got on my nerves."
"I understand. However, if you ever feel that way again, please come to me. I want to learn the best way to calm you down."
There he goes again, saying stupidly earnest things without blinking an eye! She can't be the only one who thinks he needs to be a little more self-aware, right? Apparently, she is the only one because no one else around her is remotely bothered by his words. In fact, they seem almost nonchalant about them and are instead looking at her like she's a bomb N is trying to defuse.
"I'll keep that in mind," she mutters, "So, I heard we're having a party?"
"That's right. It's a party to not only celebrate our victory today but also a welcome back party for you."
"A welcome back party? F-For me?" she sputters.
"Indeed, Touko," Rood answers, "It's all Lord N's idea."
N extends a hand out to her. "Touko, you were crucial in helping us achieve this victory. Without your guidance, I would not have known how to counter their trick. I would have watched helplessly as my friend got hurt."
"You're exaggerating, N," she retorts, "You're a really strong trainer. I'm sure you would've come up with a way to win even without my help. Don't sell yourself short."
His smile drops a bit, "Still, I want to thank you. For supporting us and our dreams."
Touko stares at the hand in front of her. She unfolds her own hand and slowly reaches out to it, but hesitation strikes at the last second. Does he even know how much he's grown? How much he has accomplished without her?
The heroine gasps when Mei grabs her wrist and drags it on top of N's palm. Mei gives a reaffirming nod, while N simply waits, neither gripping her hand nor pulling it away. Touko takes a glance around the room and sees everyone else seemingly holding their breath.
She still does not understand why N places so much faith in her. She struggles to believe that she can be a part of their world. But if they're letting her in, if they don't mind her presence...
Then she wants to find out why.
Touko closes her fingers around his hand. N's expression, in turn, brightens as he pulls her further inside.
Anthea and Concordia turn the sink on and begin the arduous task of cleaning the dishes. They've used every bowl, plate, and utensils for this party, so before the sink is overrun, they figure they should get a head start. Just as they finished washing one bowl, Touko walks up to them, grabs the wet porcelain and a towel from the dish rack, and begins to scrub it dry.
"Can I help out here?" she asks, despite already wiping down the bowl she's holding. She hands the dish to Concordia, who places it back into the cabinet above them.
"Normally, we would say no," Anthea begins, "But we can make today an exception."
"Hosting a party is tiring work," admits Concordia, "Cooking, cleaning, decorating...At least this place isn't as big as the castle. Imagine if we had to hold a celebration in that place."
"Concordia! Don't mention that place in front of Touko! It's going to bring up bad memories."
"No, it's alright. Really," Touko instantly defends, "I don't want you guys to have to watch what you say around me. We're allies now."
The two sisters share a glance with each other. Anthea answers back, "Very well. If that's the case, is there something you want to tell us?"
Touko tenses. She's been exposed. "A-Ahh...well, I wanted to say that N's really changed. It's a little disorienting."
Concordia hums, pondering over what she's trying to get at. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No, not at all! But I was wondering what you guys think. I mean, you know how he was three years ago. How did you all...adjust?"
Ah, so that's the issue. With a motherly expression, Anthea says, "N may be more approving of the relationship people have with Pokémon, but deep down, he still deeply cares for Pokémon. Even with his new ideals, his kind heart still remains. As long as that's true, it's easier to accept the person he has become."
As Touko processes Anthea's words, Concordia adds, "I thought you would have known this by now, but I guess I was wrong. Listen closely, Touko. N is not a child anymore. It'll do you well to remember that."
N passes out as soon as he touches his bed and shows no signs of waking up, which is a rare sight. Touko glances at her travel partner with a conflicted smile.
"Even though N is technically older than me, it's so hard for me to see him as anything other than a child. But Concordia said that I shouldn't. Why would she say that?"
The memory of N's childhood room briefly flashes before her eyes. A disturbing thought arises, and she has to cover her mouth to contain it within her.
"I've always felt guilty for destroying his innocence, but keeping N pure and childlike was all part of Ghetsis's plan. He raised N in that way so that he can use him to gain control of Zekrom. If I'm still seeing N as a child, then...it's no better than Ghetsis seeing him as a tool."
She recalls Anthea's answer to her question from earlier today.
"Does he really have the same, kind heart as before? Or did he have to rebuild that kindness, just like his ideals? Oh, who am I kidding? It really doesn't matter which one is the truth, right?"
Touko closes her eyes and lets herself fall back onto the bed. "I'll think about this tomorrow. I know things have to change, but I don't know in what way..."
She finally doses off, losing herself in the soft blankets and the fluffy pillow.
Touko doesn't know how long she's been sleeping, but she suddenly feels another weight slowly pressing down on her bed. Because of how comfortably she has been sleeping, she can barely lift her eyes open, and her voice doesn't want to work.
The room is dark but not pitch black. Touko notices that the lamp is on, albeit glowing very dimly. The soft light flickers against long, green hair, and she realizes who's on top of her.
"Huh…? N…? Why is he on my bed…?"
Because of the limited lighting, half of his face is covered by the shadows. He's only wearing his white overshirt. His necklace is missing, and there's no cap on his head to contain his bushy hair.
She thinks that maybe he has also just woken up, but if that's the case, why is the room so dark? And how come she woke up so easily? Even she knows she's a heavy sleeper.
It's when she establishes eye contact with him and realizes how his eyes are changing colors that she comes to the conclusion that something's off.
He presses a finger to his lips as he smiles deliberately.
"You are clinging onto an outdated truth," Touko doesn't see his mouth move, but his voice vibrates through her body, poking underneath her skin like embers dancing around a campfire, "I will brand a new truth into your mind, your body, and your soul."
He swiftly captures her lips and pins her down to her pillow. Heat invades her head, turning it into wax, and true to his words, the sensation of a hot iron begins to brand indecipherable words onto her brain.
In a fit of confusion and panic, Touko shoves him away. While the heat slightly abates, her heart is now riled up, working desperately to reinforce its walls and quell the incoming storm.
She doesn't understand what's going on. N would never do this! She's not ready-!
"You continue to hide your true feelings," N's voice trembles with disappointment, "I won't be deterred. This world you have trapped yourself in...I shall break it with my own hands!"
As if his determination has flipped a switch on her body, the heat within her rises to unbearable levels, crashing against the walls of her heart. Touko's voice finally works, but she can't do anything except cry out for him. Her hands immediately suppress her traitorous lips.
"How much longer can you keep your voice down? How long will you continue to believe that I don't want to listen to you? Let's find out...together."
Touko arches her back when something starts to bang against the walls of her heart, aiming to tear them down. Her body trembles, and already, she doesn't know how many more of those she can endure.
This can't be happening. N is too pure to understand what he's doing! She doesn't deserve to feel this way-!
The words he had branded into her mind pulse to life and relentlessly scorch her. Combined with the unyielding pressure bashing against her heart, it's a miracle that she is able to decipher the truth N wants her to accept.
No. Ever since the beginning, his truth has been on her mind. It's only because...she has finally acknowledged her desires that she is able to see it.
It feels so good. So wonderfully...liberating. She wants this. She wants him so badly-!
Touko throws her hands away from her lips and opens her eyes. She finds N staring back at her, and he rewards her with that precious smile she's always wanted to put on his face. His eyes are now one color: the same blistering, blue color she sees every time she steps in front of a mirror.
She breathlessly calls out his name. The dam within her breaks, and her world shatters.
Profile: Hugh
Mei's childhood friend from Aspertia City and her main rival. After finding out that his sister's Purrloin was taken away from Team Plasma six years ago, he vowed to go on a journey to get it back. Mei's reason for starting her own Pokémon journey was to help Hugh with his goal. At first, he comes off as single-minded and crude, especially when his hatred for Team Plasma takes over, but after traveling through Unova, he's since toned down his impulsiveness. Underneath his blunt and fierce demeanor, he's a caring person who supports his friends and pushes them to become better people. He's currently working at Rood's adoption center in order to help them atone for their past.
Age: 15
Horoscope: Whimsicott
Team: Unfezant, Samurott, Simisage, Flygon, Eelektross, Bouffalant.