It's a normal day for the people working at the adoption center.
Slam!
It's a slightly normal day for the people working at the adoption center.
"My lord, what is the matter? Did you run here? Your face is pale!"
"Has Mei left the city yet?"
"Nope, I'm still here! What's up, N?"
"Touko's avoiding me!"
"...WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
Scratch that. Everyone knows that whenever Mei explodes, they're not getting anything done that day.
Chapter 16: Rated M for Misunderstandings?!
Sitting on one of the spare foldable chairs, Mei adjusts the pair of red frames resting on her nose and folds up the sleeves of her white lab coat. Her hair is still wrapped up in two buns, but the long strands of hair that usually flow down from them have been shortened. She carefully crosses her legs as she writes something down on the clipboard she's holding.
"So, N," Mei says with the professionalism of a real doctor, "Tell me why you think Touko is avoiding you. Do not leave out any details; it is crucial that we consider every angle."
Across from her, N sits up straight and nods, "When I woke up this morning, her bed was empty, but the blankets and sheets were made. Her bag and her Pokémon were gone, too. Since she's a heavy sleeper, I've never seen her make her bed before we leave."
"What time did you wake up?"
"A little past 7 a.m."
"Up...unusually early…" Mei mutters as she scribbles the tidbit down, "Okay, continue."
"Right. After I prepared for the day, I went downstairs to the cafeteria. Maybe she wanted to grab some breakfast. I managed to spot her finishing up her food, but before I could call out to her, she got up and left the Pokémon Center."
"Did you notice anything off about her?"
"Not at that time. I could only see her back."
"Then, did you hear anything from her Pokémon?"
N furrows his eyebrows and then shakes his head, "I was too far away to listen in."
Mei leans back into her chair, "I don't see how this means she's avoiding you."
"There's more to this story," he quickly adds, "I wanted to ask her what we were doing today, since we went to bed last night before having that discussion. I tried to catch up to her, but she was speed-walking and weaving around every corner of the city. Eventually, I found her by the fountain next to the Pokémon World Tournament, and…"
"And…?" Mei doesn't like how N is hesitating.
"Touko! Wait!" N wheezed. He wasn't expecting to engage in a game of hide-n-seek this early in the day. When he caught his breath, he noticed the clenched fists by her sides. Her shoulders were tense, and the hairs on her forearms were bristling.
He heard Reshiram telling her to calm down, and that was all he needed to piece together that Touko was very, very upset.
"Tell me what's wrong," N pleads, "Whatever problem you're facing...it's better if we solve it together."
Touko stiffened as a shiver ran down her spine, "It's none of your business."
Her voice was barely audible and restrained to the point where she was practically spitting her words out. It looped in his mind, digging up painful memories of the past. But because of the dread building up within him, he couldn't let her drop the subject.
"I won't leave you to wallow in your anger alone. Please talk to me."
Touko breathed in, the beginnings of his name spilling from her mouth. But halfway through, she stifled her voice, and she ended up making a muffled groan.
N frowns, "Touko…?"
She tried to say something again, but her hands reached up to trap her voice inside. Eventually, she slammed her hands down and snarled, "Just. Leave me. Alone."
The residents of the adoption center, excluding Anthea and Concordia, all huddle close to each other, quaking at the mention of Touko's rage. Mei's pen drops to the floor as she gapes at N. The former king tips his hat to cover his eyes.
"I don't know where I went wrong," he says, "All of the lessons you have taught me...I've made sure to apply them to every interaction I make with her. I thought I was finally becoming her friend."
His defeated sigh twists the hearts of anyone who hears it. For the ex-Team Plasma members, seeing their former king sulk as if his ideals were torn apart in front of him is enough motivation to power through their fear. In a time like this, what he needs is encouragement!
"L-Lord N, you mustn't lose hope so easily!" Melanie exclaims, "What if...she's not just trying to avoid you, but everyone else?"
"That's right. The two of you were getting along really well!" Blake adds, "She wouldn't change her mind overnight."
"Actually...she would," one grunt mumbles, "A-After...Lord N revealed he was the king of Team Plasma to her, I think we all know what happened..."
N looks ready to crawl to his knees and beg for divine repentance. The light in his eyes slowly begins to drain away as some of the staff members glare daggers at the grunt.
Sage Rood loudly clears his throat and places a hand on N's shoulder. "Melanie and Blake are right, my lord. We do not have the full story. It is too early to assume the problem that plagues her is related to you."
It takes N a moment to organize his thoughts. He wants to believe that Touko hasn't changed her mind about being his friend, but seeing her revert back to how she was when they were enemies is making him question everything.
Why has she closed off her heart? Is it really something else entirely? Does she still not trust him enough to divulge her troubles to him?
He has to figure this puzzle out and find the missing variables in this formula. N straightens his posture as a small glint of determination flashes in his gray eyes. "You're right, Sage Rood. No matter what the truth might be, I must face it without any reservations. That's why...everyone! Please, help me find the source of her uncertainty!"
All around him, the faces of his fellow associates light up with reassuring smiles. Even the Pokémon have started cheering words of encouragement to him. Mei flings off her lab coat, changing back into her normal outfit, and dramatically points to the exit, "Alright, everyone! You heard him! For the sake of this adoption center's future, we must get to the bottom of this!"
As a resounding cry drowns the lobby, N is again reminded of just how fortunate he is to have so many people supporting him.
They find Touko still hanging around the PWT. Mei and N peek their heads around a streetlight, locking their gazes onto the heroine as she takes a look at one of the new booths in front of the large water fountain.
"So, back to stalking, are we?" Zekrom grumbles.
Mei internally huffs, "This is an emergency, Zekrom! If we lose sight of her, we'll never figure out what she's going through."
"Do you have an idea of what might be troubling her?"
Her conversation with Touko the other day immediately springs to mind. "Sort of, but who knows, really? She seemed really sure about her decision to find another reason to fulfill her dream. She wouldn't have second thoughts."
"You ready, N?" Mei asks, ending her internal musings with Zekrom, "We need to figure out if she's really avoiding you. Remember, act normally."
N adjusts his cap. "I'll do my best to follow your lead."
Touko moves on from the stall she was looking at and heads to the booth next to it. From where they were before, Mei wasn't able to see who's running it, but now that she and N are much closer, she gasps when three very familiar businessmen in red announce the grand opening of their new business.
Apparently, Touko is just as surprised. Her stance turns aggressive. "What are you planning this time?"
"Ugh, it's you," they seem just as excited to see her, "Relax, will you? We're not planning to do anything to the city."
"Uh-huh," she replies, unconvinced.
"It's true! We've going to start from scratch and slowly work our way up to building our own casino. And to do that, we need money."
One of the grunts takes a closer look at Touko and flinches. "Woah, girl. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Your eyes are pitch black. Did you not get any sleep?"
"You could say that," she looks away, "I had a lot on my mind."
"In that case, since you've ruined our previous business venture, you can make it up to us by being our first customer! We have just the thing to put life back into those eyes!" The businessman sets a stool next to their stall and snaps a mirror onto the table, "Come, sit! In five minutes, we'll make it as if those bags never even existed."
Touko doesn't get the chance to reject their offer because one of them grabs her wrist and drags her onto the stool. She's told to close her eyes, and when she reluctantly does, they bring out a palate of makeup.
"Have you used makeup before?" the grunt working on her face questions.
"No...I was never into that kind of stuff."
"You say that, but we can tell that you take very good care of your hair. Let me guess, the shampoo you've been using is from the soap store in Aquacorde City."
"How-?"
"Beauty is our specialty. Determining the kind of beauty products people are using is child's play."
Mei thinks this is the perfect time to join the conversation, "That's really impressive. You've got to teach me some of your secrets. But, are you really sure you can operate here?"
"We're not going to give out our trade secrets to customers! They're trade secrets for a reason. And I don't see why we have to show you proof, but we do have a copy of the business permit we've signed with Clay."
N curiously takes a sweeping glance at the tiny bottles of cleansers and toners as Mei plants herself next to the heroine, eager to observe them apply makeup to her face. He narrows his eyes at the logo, which is a pair of two angels, one white and one black, standing back-to-back.
Touko slowly lifts her eyes open, possibly to register Mei's presence, but the businessman orders her to keep them closed. With the number of people crowding around Touko, N can't get a good look at her.
"Those are some real black bags under your eyes," Mei mutters, "What time did you get up today?"
Touko frowns, "Around five in the morning."
"But you and N left at midnight last night!"
"Yeah...I barely slept at all. I kept waking up in the middle of the night."
The businessman pulls away from Touko's face and closes the palate, "You can open your eyes now. The mirror's in front of you."
Touko blinks several times as she adjusts to the sunlight. Peeking at her reflection, she marvels at how the black bags under her eyes have indeed vanished.
Mei excitedly claps, her own eyes sparkling with wonder. "Wow, her eyes are so pretty now! Right, N?"
N's already drawn to how bright Touko's blue eyes are, but they are now enhanced by the makeup. He feels as if he's staring at the open ocean, with the sunlight bathing on the surface. It's a sight he would revel in for hours if he could.
"They are mesmerizing," he replies, unabashedly grinning, "The effects of your products are potent, to be sure."
Something in the atmosphere abruptly shifts. What was once a peaceful and slow view of the ocean descends quickly into a storm of turbulent waves. The sight of raging tides is then covered by the rim of Touko's hat, and she harshly bites her lips. Even though she has made her expression unreadable, the overwhelming aura of pure malice swallows the three businessmen whole, and they cling to each other, letting out a collective shriek.
Keeping her head down, Touko snatches the palate of makeup they were using on her, slams down an unknown amount of Pokédollars, and dashes away without even sparing a glance back.
"W-W-What's wrong w-with her…?" squeak the businessmen. As N watches Touko retreat as if she had just slapped him, Mei begins to tremble. It doesn't take long before she erupts.
"THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!"
When Mei informs the people at the adoption center that Touko is, indeed, avoiding N, everyone begins to panic.
"You've gotta be kidding me," a grunt wearing hiking clothes bangs his fist onto the dining table, "What do we do now?"
Another staff member looks ready to soil her pants, "I-I can't believe she reverted back to how she was before. A-At this rate..."
Everyone is thinking the same thing. With her back turned to them, an imaginary Touko taps away at her Xtransceiver. A man in a trench coat pops up on the screen, and the heroine mumbles in that savage tone, "Looker? Yeah, I need you to arrest someone. His name is N. Why? Because he's a stalker. Maybe even a pedophile. Oh, and he's also hiding with a bunch of former Team Plasma members. Get them, too."
"Nooooooo!" They all scream at once. Rood hasn't fully succumbed to the onslaught of terror overtaking his co-workers, but even he is bogged down by the situation. Mei is firing theory after theory to Hugh, who only shrugs with thinly-veiled skepticism. As for N, he has unclipped the void cube attached to his pants and is frantically twisting the faces around. Maybe if he toys with it enough, he can find the answer that'll save them from this crisis.
Anthea and Concordia guiltily look at each other. The pink-haired sister then sighs and admits, "I'm sorry, everyone. This is most likely our fault."
Her confession momentarily stops the madness. N asks, "What do you mean, Anthea?"
"Last night, Touko asked us about you," Concordia answers, "She wanted to know how we're able to accept the person you are now."
"Why would she ask about that?" Hugh shakes his head, "Everyone here is still loyal to N and his ideals. That's why Team Plasma was split in half."
Anthea nods, "I cannot tell you what she was thinking at the time, but she must be searching for an answer to something related to you, N. Maybe she's still thinking about it and is choosing to distance herself from you in the meantime."
What his sister has just said makes logical sense. This is the exact same thing he did in the past. But it doesn't sit right with him. That can't be Touko's true feelings. Right…?
Mei turns her head away. Hugh raises an eyebrow and whispers, "Hey, you know something, don't you? It's written all over your face."
"Yeah, but it's not my place to say. Ugh, this wasn't supposed to happen!" she hisses back. The actress then storms out of the building, "I'm going to have a word with her."
An uncomfortable silence soon ensues. Having enough of the despair hanging over the place, Hugh heads to the front door, stopping right when he's next to N. "Let's go. Help me run some errands. Since Touko's not going to tell us anything anytime soon, worrying about it is just going to give you a headache."
"But-!"
"Everyone knows you're trying your best, and Mei won't let your efforts go to waste. We should leave this to her. She has a knack for getting people to open up."
N fiddles with his hat, mulling over Hugh's words. Eventually, he asks, "What do you need to do first?"
Hugh and N head to the marketplace first. The place is brimming with activity; a new shipment of items has just arrived earlier in the day. Swarms of people clog the walkways, eager to browse through what the ports have brought in. Despite the number of people present at the market, N can be easily spotted; his head bobs above the crowd.
A former Team Plasma grunt waves the two over and excitedly shows them the batch of Luck Incenses that she is selling. N buys one of them to support her business.
"Are you going to take that with you, or is it going to hog a spot in the back closet?" Hugh questions. N hugs the incense close to him, serving as his answer.
The younger trainer shrugs and then walks up to a stall run by a female cashier dressed in a maid costume. He pulls up a shopping list and orders several crates of Moomoo Milk. After paying the cashier, Hugh releases his Flygon and his Eelektross, and like clockwork, they hover over to a stack of boxes behind the counter and begin to carry them out of the marketplace. N and his Zoroark assist Hugh's Pokémon by helping them lift the crates up, splitting the weight between the two carriers.
Once all of the Moomoo Milk has been transported to the adoption center, they return to the marketplace, slightly out of breath from the heavy lifting. The maid, having noticed this, hands them both a complimentary bottle of Moomoo Milk. While Hugh eagerly pops the bottle cork open, N is more hesitant on accepting the drink.
"Are you sure?" asks the former king.
"Yep, it's on the house. Nothing is more refreshing after some manual labor than Moomoo Milk."
Hugh empties the bottle down in one long chug and then lets out an indulgent sigh. "That hit the spot! Hey, N! Don't just stare at it!"
"Oh, right."
N opens the bottle and takes a tentative sip. The coolness of the liquid pools in his mouth before sliding down his throat. Closing his eyes, he tilts the bottle up to intake more Moomoo Milk, and soon, he's chugging it the same way Hugh did a few moments ago. When the last drop touches his tongue, he separates the bottle from his lips and also sighs contently, though not as loudly as Hugh.
"Pretty good, huh?" Hugh grabs N's bottle and stores both of the empty containers in his bag. N nods but not before exhaling another deep breath.
Someone's surprised outburst shatters the drone of the marketplace. Boxes drop to the floor, spilling the contents inside. There are people gasping and rushing to the source of the crash. Hugh and N grimace as they turn to see what happened. A merchant is on his knees, chasing after a few large berries rolling away from him. Next to him...is Touko, lying face-down on the tiled floor. A thin strand of red liquid drizzles out from under her face, while her hat is displaced next to her right arm.
Immediately, Hugh jumps onto the panicking merchant, "Hey! Watch where you're going! You're about to feel my rage for hurting one of my friends!"
As the merchant denies that he has harmed Touko, N dashes to her side and flips her over. Aside from the massive red spot on her face, most likely from hitting the floor as hard as she did, the berry juice trickling down from her face starting from a blotch on her nose, and her dazed, far-away gaze, she seems to be alright. He waves a hand over her eyes, but they don't move.
"She's unconscious. How did this happen? Why was she here? And where's Mei? First things first, I have to take her someplace to recover."
"I'm telling you! She was the one not looking where she was going!" the merchant shouts.
"Look, pal!" Hugh retorts, "You could have at least helped her first instead of scrambling after those berries!"
"Please don't fight," N beseeches, "It was clearly an accident. I'll pay for the damages to your wares in place of my friend here once I bring her to a place where she can recover."
Hugh drops the nasty glare he has directed at the merchant and pulls away. He grabs a portion of his spiky hair and eventually grumbles, "Let's take her to the adoption center. We can have Anthea and Concordia watch over her while we finish the rest of the errands."
After closing her eyelids, N positions one of his arms around her back and the other under her knees. He lifts her from the ground and turns to the north exit of the marketplace. Right when he begins to ponder Mei's whereabouts again, she sprints into view, skidding to a halt and bending down to catch her breath. When she finally registers the chaos surrounding her friends, a look of bafflement is written clearly across her face.
"That's it," Mei finally says, "I'm calling in the cavalry!"
"Wouldn't 'the big guns' be the more appropriate phrase here?" N tilts his head.
She wags her finger at him. "No, the 'big guns' is her mom. The cavalry," Mei taps her Xtransceiver, "is Bianca and Cheren."
Anthea wrings the excess water out of a soaked towel and places the damp cloth onto Touko's forehead. While Mei and Hugh are staring at the entrance of the adoption center, N, Castella, Kol, and Sage Rood are sitting next to Touko's bed. Since Anthea had to clean the red liquid off of the heroine's face, the black bags under her eyes can be seen again.
"Poor girl. She looks exhausted," Concordia notes. N absentmindedly nods, not once taking his eyes off of the unconscious girl.
"Well, she's getting some rest now," Kol shrugs, "And once she wakes up, we can finally get to the bottom of this mess. She won't be able to run away with all of us here."
Castella narrows her eyes at him, "I don't think it's a good idea for us to interrogate her. She's avoiding Lord N, and Mei hasn't been able to figure out why. If she sees us surrounding her like this, she'll think we've kidnapped her and is trying to get a confession out of her. And...well, I don't have to tell you what people do when they feel cornered."
Kol's flippant expression drops as he understands what his co-worker is getting at. "She would fight her way out. And we won't be strong enough to stop her, even with Mei, Hugh, and Lord N pitching in."
"She wouldn't do that!" N suddenly exclaims. Castella and Kol flinch less at the outburst and more at the confusion reflected in his stormy eyes. The former king places a hand on the rim of his hat to steady himself.
"She wouldn't...do that..." he repeats again, this time a little less sure of himself.
"Do...what?" A new voice enters the conversation, and the people in the room turn their gaze to the stairway. Bianca greets them with a small wave before making her way to Touko's side.
"Cheren can't make it right now," she relays, "He has to deal with a really stubborn parent. So, until he's done, you can count on me."
"You're a lifesaver!" Mei sighs, "Here's everything we know so far…"
After a brief run-down of the situation, Bianca stares down at her childhood friend, eyeing her with a concentrated frown. "Mei, can you hand me that clipboard you're holding?"
"Oh yeah. Here you go."
The blonde assistant skims through the observations that they have made and notes the various conclusions scattered throughout the page. She quietly giggles to herself at some of them.
Hugh crosses his arms. "What's so funny? Everyone here is losing their minds. Take this more seriously."
"But I am. I don't think Touko is mad at N," Bianca asserts, "Not one bit."
"Then, do you know why she's like this?" questions Mei.
"Nope, not a clue."
As everyone in the vicinity, excluding N, comically falls to the floor, Bianca makes a show of tilting her head. In truth, there's only one reason she can think of. "Touko must have been exposed as a magical girl! That's why she's trying to avoid a confrontation with him. I guess she's still not ready to tell him."
Bianca settles her gaze onto Touko's exhausted expression. Her poor friend must have been agonizing over this all night. Even now, she can clearly see the unease Touko has been desperately trying to conceal. She's not sure what she can do to help lessen the burden, but maybe what Touko needs is someone to confide in. And then, when Cheren comes, they can all come up with a plan to make N forget about what he saw.
Touko grimaces, slowly stirring from her slumber. Bianca, in turn, begins to shove everyone out of the room. "Alright! I'm going to need everyone to vacate the building. Now."
"W-Wait, why?!" Mei protests, digging her heels into the floor.
"Because, if she sees all of you here, especially you, N, she won't talk. Worst-case scenario, she'll battle her way out."
"So she would do that!" Everyone else thinks.
"Let's take the Pokémon out for a walk," Sage Rood suggests. As the other staff members round up the Pokémon and guide them to the exit, Castella and Kol mention something about checking on the hidden grotto next to Mistralton Cave.
Hugh turns to N, "We should head back to the marketplace before that merchant comes knocking on our doors."
"I did say I would pay for the damages." N takes one last glance at Bianca. He looks as if he wants to say more, but Bianca grins and says, "Don't you worry. I'm going to get this silly girl to come to her senses."
N half-heartedly smiles, his gaze far away. "Thank you, Bianca. Hearing you say that is reassuring."
Sage Rood and the other staff members pass the Seasons Research Lab, presiding in the middle of Route 6, into a clearing consisting of tall grass and two shallow pools. While the former grunts are busy making sure the Pokémon under their care aren't straying far from the group, Rood takes a sweeping glance across his surroundings.
"The Foongus who were living here are still nowhere to be seen…" the sage observes as he fiddles with his beard, "Did they migrate to another route? But I remember Lord N talking about how the Foongus consider this place their home. Castella, Melanie. I know you two regularly occupy the eastern part of Unova. Have you encountered them where you work?"
The two female ace trainers wince at Rood's question. Castella is the faster thinker of the two and quickly replies, "Nope. If we did, N's Pokémon would recognize them."
"T-They could have found a trainer to follow," Melanie adds, "It happens."
"Is that so? I do hope that trainer takes good care of them." Thankfully, Rood drops the subject and leads the group out of the clearing.
The sense of relief that the four ace trainers feel is short-lived, however. The moment they step foot onto the bridge separating the rest of Route 6 from the path to Chargestone Cave, a howl rings out that stills their hearts. A blue, antelope-like Pokémon with long horns dashes to the group from the direction of Mistralton Cave.
"Cobalion," Sage Rood respectfully greets, "It's a pleasure to see you again."
The Iron Will Pokémon merely gives a short glance at the sage before casting its gaze onto the four ace trainers. It then gestures to the hidden grotto, where a Pokémon Ranger who had been residing on the route lies unconscious. A dark aura lingers over his body.
"O-Oh no!" Melanie exclaims, "The seal!"
Rood furrows his eyebrows. "Child, what seal…?"
The sound of rustling leaves and toppling branches alerts the surrounding wild Pokémon. Trees give way to a massive Amoonguss whose capped top reaches past the foliage and into the clouds. Upon further inspection, they find that it's not really an Amoonguss blown up to colossal proportions, but rather three Foongus fused together to form the towering monstrosity. Its arms are actually two Foongus branching out from the main stem.
The Amoonguss-like Kugeki screeches and swings its arms out, sweeping away the hidden grotto. As it wiggles its body, purple dust exudes from its head and gently floats down onto every person and Pokémon in the route. While the four ace trainers are unaffected, everyone else falls into the same state as the unconscious Pokémon Ranger.
Cobalion once again settles its gaze onto the ace trainers as if telling them to deal with the issue. Melanie widens her eyes upon piecing together what happened.
"You...broke the seal."
The legendary Pokémon nods and then gallops towards the Kugeki. Melanie frowns as she relays her interpretation of Cobalion's actions, "It probably got tired of waiting for us to deal with this, especially after sensing that Mei was back in town."
"The last time Mei fought this was when she was just starting out. She should be able to defeat it now," Blake says, "I'll go get her. You guys make sure it doesn't go anywhere."
Mei accompanies N to the marketplace and watches him hand money over to the merchant from earlier. Hugh still looks less than pleased, but she can't tell if it's because he has some kind of beef with the merchant, or if he's worried about the situation with Touko. When N rejoins them, he hears Mei mumbling to herself, questioning what she should do.
Eventually giving up, she grips the handle of her bag distressingly tight and glares at the floor. "I'm starting to think my lessons are useless now."
N dislikes the direction of her thoughts, but he asks her to elaborate, "Why do you say that?"
"I've realized that I only know Touko from your perspective. To you, she's a fierce person with a big heart. The hatred she had felt towards you was due to you being a part of Team Plasma and threatening to separate people and Pokémon. And once she defeated you, that was it. To think she regretted her journey so much..."
Hugh shakes his head. "She shouldn't, though. She was fighting to protect the bonds between trainers and Pokémon. You two would have eventually fought each other."
"That's what I thought, too," Mei says, "But now that we know more about her, I don't think what I've taught you can be applied anymore. After all, I was under the assumption that Touko didn't want anything to do with you. I didn't think the reason she left Unova was because she also wanted to make amends, too."
Hugh wants to cheer his friend up, but he clearly doesn't know how because all he does is stare at her. N, on the other hand, seems to be reminiscing about a flashback of him aboard the Ferris Wheel, observing Touko nervously as they sat silently across from each other. There were so many things he wanted to say to her. Maybe he should first apologize for involving her in his crusade, or ask if she had accomplished her dream, whatever that was. No matter how many times he thought about what he would do if he ever saw her again, the number of choices before him paralyzed him. It wasn't until they were at the top of the ride, with the view aligning just right, that he recalled the most important thing he wanted to convey to her.
"I disagree," the former king responds, "Touko may be different from how we thought her to be, but your lessons have been useful in setting me off on the right foot. They had not only gotten me familiar with how people interact with others, but they also helped close the gap between me and Touko. I want to keep using this valuable resource. And...this journey might not have been possible had you not intervened. As you said before, we could have circled the entire world, searching for each other, and never meet again. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, and I hope you will continue to assist me."
Mei looks ready to bawl. "Ugh. You always have the right things to say, N. Of course I'll keep helping you!"
"That's good to hear. I only want you to return to your cheerful self. With that said, maybe this time, I should follow my heart. And right now, it's telling me..." N's voice trails off when he spots the giant Amoonguss-like Kugeki in the distance. Mei and Hugh both turn around, and their faces soon match N's open-mouthed expression.
"Mei! Hugh!" Blake calls as he rushes into town, "We have a big problem!"
Hugh is the first to snap out of his stupor. "Yeah, we can see that. I'm going on ahead!"
"Right behind you, Hugh!" Mei calls, and she, along with Hugh and Blake, sprints into Route 6, leaving N behind.
He isn't too surprised they have gone off without him. Mei and Hugh both have a tendency of doing that. N glances up at the large Amoonguss, who is letting out an echoing shriek. As his ears ring, he briefly hears three voices crying for help. Their pleas are distorted by sharp crackles as though ice is crashing down onto them.
"I can hear them this time. How long have they been in this state? For now, I have to help Mei and the others. Endure it for a little while longer, my friends!"
Just as N leaves the city, Cheren turns a corner on the main street and sees the older trainer running towards the giant Amoonguss. With frustration quickly taking hold of him, he grumbles, "This isn't good. Touko, what in the world are you doing? I thought we were supposed to keep N away from the Kugekis. Now, he's rushing headfirst into danger. Where did she go?"
Touko softly groans when she opens her eyes, nose crinkling at the lingering traces of pain underneath it. It takes her a moment to register that she's lying down on a bed and that the light above her is vaguely familiar. Cradling her face, she sits up and tries to remember how exactly she got here.
"Oh, you're up! How are you feeling?"
"Wait, that's Bianca's voice!" Sure enough, when she turns to her left, she finds Bianca sitting on the bed next to her with a clipboard and pen in hand.
"My face hurts," Touko grumbles, "Felt like I was punched. Wait, that's not important. Why are you here? And what's with the clipboard?"
"I heard from Mei that you collapsed. I had to come check if you were alright. Touko, you have to tell me what happened!"
The heroine recoils as warmth floods her cheeks. With a stuttering voice, she mumbles, "I...I can't…!"
"It's just the two of us," Bianca reassures, "No one is going to overhear."
"T-That's not the problem!"
"Please, Touko! Maybe the situation isn't as bad as you think it is. And...N is a forgiving person!"
At the mention of his name, Touko buries her head into her hands. Bianca rests a hand on her friend's shoulder to comfort her. "It's going to be okay! If we just explain everything to him, then he'll understand why you were hiding the truth from him."
"No, he won't!" Touko whines, "If I tell him, he'll never look at me the same way again!"
"But he already saw you as Cure Flare, right?"
Touko's expression blanks out, suddenly realizing that Bianca is misunderstanding the entire situation. Reshiram, who has been quiet this whole time, descends into rambunctious laughter.
"As amusing as this has been, I believe this has gone on for long enough."
"Why...Why did this have to happen…?"
"How long are you going to stare at your hands, Touko? You must clarify the situation to our misguided friend."
Sucking in a shaky breath, the heroine steels herself and lifts her head. She sees Bianca frowning, clearly worried about her.
"Uhh...no. Actually, yes, but that's…" Touko struggles to form words. Where does she even begin? "That's not...it. I'm...avoiding him...for another reason."
"Huh, another reason?"
"Yeah...umm...y-you have to promise that nothing that I'm about to say leaves this room!"
"Your secret is safe with me!" Bianca makes a saluting gesture to go along with her promise. Touko takes another deep breath and blurts everything out at once. With how fast the words are coming out of Touko's mouth, Bianca can't find the right place to stop her and ask for any clarifications. Instead, she tries to pick keywords out from the seemingly endless rant. Among them were "and," "nice," "hot", and, of course, "N.''
When the heroine finally finishes, she covers her lips and looks away again as though disgusted by what she had just said. Bianca taps her pen against the clipboard, trying to piece together what she heard.
"So, you think N is nice...and hot?" She eventually concludes. Touko shushes her harshly, even trying to cover her friend's mouth with her other hand, despite knowing that no one will be able to hear them.
That doesn't do much to silence Bianca. "I always thought that was how you saw him, though."
"N-No! I...Well...maybe a little…" Touko admits with a pout, "But, he was also a creep in the beginning…and then...when I found out the truth about him...I felt bad more than anything…and that's how it was...until literally...last night…when…"
"When…?"
"I...I had a dream...where...where…"
The heroine is stuck repeating her last word like a broken record, unable to move forward. She summons the willpower to finish her sentence, and her voice comes out louder than Bianca expects. "N and I went all the way!"
The effect is immediate. Bianca gasps, almost dropping the clipboard, and Touko goes back to hiding herself behind her hands. The blonde looks back at the list of observations, and with a trembling voice, she begins to list them out one by one.
"I-Is that why...you didn't get any sleep last night?"
Now that the truth is out in the open, Touko answers Bianca without any restraints. "I woke up several times that night because some parts got too intense! Every time I closed my eyes, I was back in that dream! By the time the sun came out, I was doing everything I could to stay awake!"
"And...and when he finally caught up to you…?"
"H-Hearing his voice was too much! When he called my name, all I could hear was how he said it in my dreams! I could barely breathe! A-And I couldn't say his name back because I didn't want him to realize that he did take my breath away, so I had to restrain my voice! It took everything just to tell him to leave me alone!"
"And...the makeup…?"
"Ahhh! Don't remind me! When he complimented my eyes, I remembered how his eyes were burning! I-I only bought the makeup kit because otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to escape!"
"The marketplace…?"
"A-After that, Mei started chasing me! I knew she only wanted to help, but she's already done so much for me! I thought I could lose her in the market, but I didn't think I'd see N there! When he started drinking that bottle of Moomoo Milk, I-I just kept staring at his throat! And then, the way he exhaled afterward...like he's just satisfied himself! I-I was panicking so hard...and that's...the last thing I remember…"
The room is way too hot now. Touko is panting, exhausted from spilling her guts. Bianca is also red, but that's mostly thanks to the mood. "So all those times they thought Touko was angry, it was actually because she was concentrating really hard!"
"I think I get it now…" the blonde eventually says, "This...really isn't something you can just tell him."
"Right?! You know...at first, I thought this was Reshiram's doing, since everything felt like it was burning, but it said, and I quote, 'If I had the power to send my heroes prophetic dreams, many of them would not have the fates that they had.' So...I don't have anyone to blame but myself...for dreaming this kind of thing."
"You don't like this dream, do you?"
Touko's mouth gapes as if she was caught under a spotlight. She then slumps forward, her hat casting a shadow over her face. "Yeah, I don't. I hate what it's trying to tell me. After all, I'm the person who tried to destroy him. I've gone from wanting to break his heart to wanting that same heart for myself. How selfish can I be?"
As Touko keeps her head down, Bianca gently places the clipboard and pen on her lap. While she understands the conflict brewing within her friend, she also will not let Touko sink back into the abyss of her own making.
"N can be pretty selfish, too," Bianca states matter-of-factly.
Touko immediately raises her head, confusion and disbelief written all over her face. "Are we even talking about the same person?"
"Yeah, we are! It's true that, when it comes to Pokémon, he'll always put them before himself, but it's different for people. You get what I mean, right? You're the perfect example of this!"
"What? Me?"
"Yes, you! From the very beginning, he's always wanted to be your friend! He's always considered you as a friend, Touko."
"He's...always thought of me as his friend…? Even after everything I've said and done to him?!"
"That's right. And I think that's because he likes being around you!"
A denial lies ready on the tip of Touko's tongue, but each time she attempts to say it, a piece of evidence, drawn from her memories, would come up to shut it down. From the times they had bumped into each other when she first traveled through Unova, his invitation during their Ferris Wheel ride, to the moments, both big and small, of their new journey so far…
Touko clutches her rapidly beating heart when two different memories drift into her mind. In one, N was waiting for her to accept his hand, the kind of gesture she had expected out of him. But the moment she willed their hands to clasp together, he was quick to reinforce that grip and drag her with him.
In the other, she's standing before him as Cure Flare, waiting for him to reject her existence, only to be proven wrong when he tells her what she never thought she would hear.
Her eyes widen as her epiphany causes her to gasp. "N...he never hated me for what I did. But I despised myself for choosing to hurt him. I made myself believe I shouldn't be too close to him. All this time...I've been projecting my feelings of regret onto him...when that's not how he really feels."
"First Mei, and now you," Touko eventually says, "How are you guys able to make impossible things sound possible?"
"It's because I know what you want isn't impossible. That's why I can say things like this so confidently! It's okay to want to be closer to him, Touko. In fact, I think pushing him away is only going to hurt him, like what you're doing now. If he wants to be with you..."
"I should let him," Touko finishes Bianca's sentence, "If that's what he thinks makes him happy, then I should do everything I can to make sure he doesn't regret that decision."
"Exactly! I bet that's what your dreams really wanted to tell you."
As if remembering why she's hiding in the back of the adoption center, Touko suddenly deflates, almost borderline crying, "Why did you have to bring them up?! I completely forgot I can't look him in the eyes! How am I supposed to explain myself without coming off like a freaking pervert?! It's too late for the flashcards. Help me, please!"
"There's not much to explain, really," Bianca thinks, her face reflecting a deadpan expression. Still, she can't ignore her friend's pleas for help, and so, the two of them rack their brains together for a solution.
"Oh, I know!" suddenly exclaims Bianca, "Maybe you can tell him through a battle."
Touko blinks, as if considering her friend's suggestion, before suddenly cringing. "I-I am not challenging N to a Pokémon strip battle!"
"No, not that! A regular Pokémon battle! Touko, your mind is still in the gutter!"
"It's been in the gutter the whole day!" the heroine screams right back, "Do you know how many times I was this close to jumping him?! Or the number of times I thought about locking him in our hotel room and having my way with him?! I'm trying my best here!"
A harsh banging sound stops Touko from her crazed rant. The door slams open, and Cheren makes his way to the back of the adoption center.
Touko springs to her feet, "Cheren?!"
Despite looking agitated, Cheren raises an eyebrow at Touko's flustered face. "So this is where you were. What are you doing, hiding in a place like this when there's a Kugeki outside of the city borders? N's heading in that direction right now, actually."
"W-What?! What did I miss…?! Okay, I'm transforming now!"
Without a second thought, Touko pulls the luxury ball out of her bag and recites the magic words. "Curing Fusion!"
After a second of blinding light, Cure Flare descends before her two accomplices. Before her feet can touch the floor, she spreads her wings and soars out of the building. Just as Cheren had said, a massive Amoonguss-like Kugeki lies in the distance. It's currently being pummeled by a black dot zipping around it, and it has its arms raised to defend itself. Occasionally, it would twitch from the force of her attacks.
Flare tilts her head; it kind of looks like…
Literal steam exudes from her ears. Her face is flooded with heat, and she can't seem to cool down, even though she should be immune to high temperatures.
"I can't unsee it! Don't tell me I have to make it...explode in order to turn it back?!"
"Flare, I am aware of how hot it has been today for you, but please do not let the heat get to you. Should I ask Bolt to summon a rainstorm to sate your thirst?"
"That would be helpful. Wait, no! No, not really! Did you just...RESHIRAM!"
"I will not stop until you focus. Though, you bring up a good point. This Kugeki does have similar properties to a certain male anatomy. Perhaps we can use our flames to-!"
"RESHIRAM! YOU'RE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE, AREN'T YOU?!"
Cheren and Bianca chase after Flare, but they don't have to run far because they find the magical girl hovering over the border between Driftveil City and Route 6, staring at the giant Kugeki, who has just launched the black dot towards the direction of the city.
Flare's head is lowered, but there's a magenta-colored flame surrounding her. A moment later, she flies towards the Kugeki, leaving behind a puff of white smoke.
"Is...Is she going to be alright?" Cheren questions, "I've never seen fire that color before."
"O-Of course! This is Flare we're talking about! But we should go after her, just in case!"
"If you don't mind me asking, what were you two doing?"
"Oh, just having a girl talk."
"Girl talk? You and Touko?"
"Let's just say she's finally realized something she should have a long time ago."
Cheren crosses his arms, a part of him still in disbelief. "I never thought the two of you would ever have that kind of talk."
"Me, too. It feels like it was just yesterday when she said she was going to stay in Nuvema Town forever with your mom and be single like her. I'm glad we got her to go on her journey. You should have seen how cute she was. Her face was all red!"
"It's a shame I had to deal with one of my student's parents. I wish I could have seen that for myself. Any chance you can tell me what exactly you two discussed?"
"Sorry, Cheren! She made me swear not to tell anyone. If you really want to know, I think you know what to do."
"Figures. Fine, I'll ask her later. Now, let's see if we need to bail her out for once."
Bolt has been punching the Kugeki for a while now and surmises that she has weakened it enough for her to revert it back in one go. She grabs one of its arms and attempts to fling it up into the air, but the Kugeki uses the momentum to swat her away. Now finally free from its defensive state, it begins to draw in sunlight, converting it into a ball of dark energy that's stored in its stem. As it turns its sights towards Driftveil City, the orb slowly travels up its body.
"Shoot! It's going to send its spores to the city!" Bolt steadies herself and prepares to throw herself at the Kugeki, but a sudden burst of wind rushes past her.
"Oh no, you don't," she hears Cure Flare mumble. Her voice is low and restricted as though she's struggling to contain her anger. Bolt watches the other Precure soar to the Kugeki's head and plugs the tip with both her hands. Her pink aura swells as a flaming pillar of the same color encases the squirming Kugeki.
"Precure!" she chants, "Lustrous Flare!"
Instead of expanding out into a blaze of purifying energy, the column contracts as fireballs assault the Kugeki. The monster wiggles in ecstasy, wanting to break free, as the orb inside bashes against the head. Once it has eaten enough fireballs, its body breaks down, the dark energy converts back into sunlight, and it transforms back into three Foongus. The dark auras plaguing the surrounding trainers vanish along with the Kugeki, their faces now reflecting a peaceful slumber.
Flare catches the Foongus before they can crash onto the route. She places them next to Cobalion, who's overseeing the Pokémon Ranger, as Bolt lands next to her.
"Flare, that was amazing! What was that move you just did?"
Flare jumps as though not expecting Bolt to talk to her, "I-It's nothing special. I-I...was on autopilot, honestly."
"Still, another special attack we have in our arsenal! Hmm...now that I think about it, why were your flames pink?"
"P-Pink?!"
"Yeah, it was such a pretty shade! Like a color you would see in a sunset!"
The white Precure clenches her fists, evidently struggling to hold something back. Bolt steps back as the pink aura flares up again.
"W-Woah! Flare, seriously. What's up with you today? You know you can tell me! Whatever it is that's bothering you, it can't be that bad."
Flare fervently shakes her head, and she raises a hand to cover her mouth. Bolt's frown deepens, "It has something to do with N, right? I know he wouldn't try to hurt you intentionally, but if he did anything to upset you-!"
"I-It's not him!"
"It is not what he did. It is what she wants-!"
"Reshiram!"
While Flare's outcry only confuses Bolt even more, Zekrom narrows its eyes. Is Reshiram's heroine...trying to hide the truth from them?
"I would tread carefully if I were you, other heroine," the Deep Black Pokémon warns, "My counterpart does not appreciate being interrupted."
"Thank you, Zekrom. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. As I was saying-!"
"Flare!" Bianca's voice saves Cure Flare by butting in at the right time, "Cheren and I found N! He's in front of the Seasons Research Lab! You should hurry to him!"
"Thanks, Bianca! I'm on the way!" Flare ends her transformation, reverting Reshiram to its original height. Without looking back, she escapes before Bolt and Zekrom realize she had just avoided the topic...again.
"Bianca!" Cure Bolt wails, "We were so close to finding out the truth! Come on, Zekrom! We can't let her run away."
Professor Juniper's assistant widens her eyes, "Wait! Mei, you're Cure Bolt?!"
"Oh, right...I forgot I was supposed to keep this a secret. Well, no use trying to deny it." Cure Bolt transforms back into her civilian form and then urges the two legendary Pokémon to follow her.
"I'll explain all this later!" Mei says to Bianca, "Right now, I have to go after Touko!"
"Hey, wait for me!"
"If you're with Team Plasma, I won't show you any mercy! Screw being your friend!"
"I don't care about your ideals! I will tear them down until there's nothing left!"
"Oh, so now the idea of separating people and Pokemon breaks your heart?! You don't have the right to say that! You hypocrite!"
N snaps his eyes open and desperately draws in air. His heart frantically beats as he attempts to recollect himself. Cheren rushes to his side, frowning when he notes the fearful look in N's eyes.
"Cheren…? What…?"
"It's going to be okay, N. You must have had a pretty nasty nightmare. I couldn't get you to wake up."
N slowly shakes his head and sits up from the patch of grass he was sleeping on. "Not a nightmare...only painful memories…"
"N…"
The former king doesn't seem willing to divulge any further. He takes a moment to take in his surroundings and remembers what he was doing, "That's right...I was following Mei and Hugh to that enormous Amoonguss."
"You were most likely hit by its Spore," informs Cheren. N picks himself up, but he barely manages to take a step before remnants of his past memories assail him. The moment tenuous friendliness fell away to unbridled hatred, the increasingly hostile interactions between him and Touko, the feeling of resignation…
A hand lands on N's shoulder. Cheren stares at him with a hard frown, "Hey, snap out of it. That's all in the past."
N hangs his head, "I feel I am no closer to understanding Touko than I was three years ago. These memories remind me of the pain I had inflicted on her. I've been working to repair the scars I had left behind, but what if none of that is actually working? How do I make these feelings of sincerity resonate with her?"
Cheren sighs out of annoyance more than anything. Is it really possible for the both of them to feel the same way and yet miss each other to such a large degree?
"N!" Touko's voice, sharp and pungent with worry, rings in N's ears like a melodious note. He hadn't realized how much he enjoyed hearing Touko say his name with such a positive connotation. Quickly turns in her direction, N feels his heart swell when she smiles in relief.
"You're not hurt or anything, right? Bianca and Cheren told me you were chasing after an Amoonguss," she continues, running to his side to examine him.
"I'm fine, just a little drowsy. I didn't get the chance to talk to the Amoonguss before I was put to sleep. I'm glad you were worried about me."
"Of course I am! I...I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt!"
Touko suddenly looks shell-shocked and covers her mouth. N copies her expression, and they both stare at each other, wide-eyed and mouths wide open.
"Touko…" N is the first to break the silence, "There's something I have to tell you."
"Y-Yes?"
"I don't know what is troubling you, but I understand that you do not wish to tell me right now. I am aware that it'll take quite some time before I can fully regain your trust, so I will wait until you are ready to share. I just don't want this journey to end prematurely. There's still so much I want to learn more about. Watching you battle with your Pokémon, eating meals together, tackling difficult situations together...it's all been a wonderfully enjoyable experience. And I hope you feel the same way. Strongly enough so that...no matter what plagues your mind at this very moment, you also want to continue this journey."
Touko brings the brim of her hat down again, blocking his view of her face. N can sense the storm coming back, but unlike earlier today, he stands firm. He has to make sure she understands-!
"Geez, N. Do you even listen to yourself sometimes?"
Huh?
"What do you mean?"
"How in the world can you say those things with a straight face?!" Touko exclaims, "Don't you feel embarrassed at all?!"
It takes N a moment to respond. "Well, no. This is how I truly feel, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
Touko suddenly begins to laugh. A quiet laugh that can only be described as self-deprecating. "Of course you would say that. Even from the very beginning…"
"Touko, is this what's been bothering you? Do you have a problem with the way I express myself?"
"No! No, that's not it! How do I put this…? Your words, even if you intend for them to mean one thing, can have other consequences! Yeah, that's it! People can take what you say in a way you really didn't mean! So that's why you need to watch out!"
"I don't really follow. How can people misunderstand my words when I make it clear they can only mean what I intended?"
The heroine lifts her head, and N sees just how red her face has become. He tries to make sense of her reaction, but nothing within his library of knowledge can help decipher what she's feeling.
"Just don't say stuff like that so carelessly, okay?!"
As N bewilderedly attempts to piece together what Touko is trying to tell him, Cheren covers his face with his palm, while Bianca giggles to herself. The rest of the group is just as befuddled as N.
"To my heroine's credit, she is conveying her true feelings," Reshiram vouches.
Before Mei can turn in for the night, exhausted from running all over the city and fighting a Kugeki, Bianca asks her to meet her at one of the hidden grottos in Route 6. When she enters the secluded area, she finds Bianca and Cheren with Touko.
"Come on, just for a while! It won't get in the way of your work," the heroine pleads to Bianca.
Professor Juniper's assistant shakes her head, "I have to be ready to relocate at any moment. And I could be gone for weeks at a time!"
Cheren is the first to notice they have a spectator, "Thank you for coming, Mei. I believe Touko wanted to ask something of you."
Touko, in response, glares at the gym leader, "Do I really have to? Isn't Mei even busier than the two of you?"
"In a way," Cheren shrugs, "But she is also more flexible than both me and Bianca. Do you need Bianca to explain the situation to her?"
"N-No, this is my problem. I'll do it."
Mei isn't following their conversation. "Huh? Do you need something from me?"
Touko takes a deep breath, "Mei, I need you to come with me on this journey."
The actress doesn't even bother to hide her shock. "W-What?! But this is your journey with N! I don't want to get in the way of that!"
"I know this is going to sound reaaaally selfish, but...I actually need you to get in the way. If you don't, there's no way I can control myself. Well, actually I can, but it'll just end up like today. Eventually, N is going to get fed up."
"Control yourself…?"
Touko slowly nods and then begins to explain her side of the story, starting from her dreams from the previous night. Once Mei is sufficiently informed, the heroine claps her hands together.
"Please! You're the only one I can think of that can do this! As you heard, Cheren is a gym leader now, and Bianca's job is too inconsistent! I'm not going to deny my feelings anymore, but I don't want to scare N off."
Mei is still struggling to process what she's just learned. She couldn't have been more wrong; N's relationship with Touko was never in jeopardy. In fact, it was the complete opposite.
"Talk about a plot twist! Now that I know what's going on, I can't blame her. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch over them in the front row seat!"
"Is she not asking you to be a third wheel, though? You are to stand in the way of their developing relationship."
"Huh...that is a problem…Honestly, if you ask me, she should jump N. It'll actually be the best solution to all this. I made sure N got the talk, so he isn't clueless."
"Whatever happened to slow and steady progress?"
"I only said that because I thought Touko still hated him! Once N worked his way into regaining her trust, then yeah, he can start entertaining the idea of having something more. But that's not the case anymore! However...if she's asking me to do this, then she's really serious about wanting to make that kind of relationship work."
"Plus," Touko adds, now sporting a serious frown, "Cure Bolt said if I figured out who her real identity is, we would work together. You've been fighting the Shadow Triad like this for much longer than I have. We need to make some leeway on what their plans are."
When Mei eyes Cheren and Bianca, they both give her a firm nod. She, in turn, sighs in defeat, "I did say that, huh? And I can see that they know all about us being Precures. I'm sorry for hiding this from you, Cheren, Bianca."
"I'm sure you have your reasons," Bianca says, "What matters is that we have more allies now!"
Cheren nods, "I would really appreciate it if you could update us with everything you know...and keep Touko in check." Touko sends another half-hearted glare his way, but she ultimately turns her gaze back to Mei.
Mei concentrates a final time, but she already knows what her answer is, "Okay, I'll come along, but I do have other priorities to attend to. If you're able to hold out on those days, then we have a deal."
"Yeah, about that...I don't know if I can…"
A light bulb turns on in Bianca's mind. "Oh, how about we get her to think about something else if she ever gets too...uhh frisky? Like an image that'll help calm her down?"
Cheren suddenly perks up, "I just thought of something."
"Yeah?" Touko urges him to continue.
"Humor me for a second, but what would have happened if N were to have won the battle over Unova's future?"
Mei tilts her head, "Wouldn't Ghetsis come in and defeat N afterward? He must have been waiting a long time for that day."
"That is one possibility, but what if...Ghetsis didn't do that? What if he told N to crush Touko...in every way, shape, and form? Like say...imprisoning her and breaking her spirit...another way?"
Touko understands before everyone else what Cheren is implying. Her head immediately drops, and her body trembles out of control. When Bianca and Mei come around to the same understanding, they both narrow their eyes at him as if they've just seen a pile of rotting trash.
"Cheren, why would you even think of that?!" Bianca exclaims, "We were supposed to help Touko contain her feelings, not turn them off! Look at what you've done! You broke her!"
"I-I'm sorry?"
With a blank stare masking her complete and utter disbelief, Mei says to Zekrom via telepathy, "I think Touko should just hold it in. Imagining what could have happened is a lot scarier than her fury."
Profile: Sage Rood
The owner of the Driftveil City adoption center. He was once part of the Seven Sages, a group of intellectuals gathered by Ghetsis to assist him with his plans. After N's defeat, he, Anthea, Concordia, and several grunts take up residence in Driftveil City, where they begin to atone for their mistakes by returning Pokémon stolen by Team Plasma to their trainers. Eventually, this leads him to repurpose their building into an adoption center. Rood truly believes in N's ideals and does everything within his power to support N, even after their ties with Team Plasma have been severed. He serves as a source of wisdom and encouragement for his former lord, but he also harbors regret over not realizing Ghetsis's true nature.
Team: Herdier and Swoobat