N wandered from the arena with his head down. People jostled him shoulder to shoulder, cloth rubbing against cloth, skin against skin. A spray of sweat coated his forehead. It was challenging to walk, with so many people moving in a current like a horde of basculin. The first day of the tournament had ended, and as such, everyone withdrew at the same time.

The tournament. While others had cheered and whooped, N had studied the battles with a heavy heart, grimacing each time a Pokemon was hurt, each time the onlookers screamed for it to happen again. How could they do that? How come they couldn't see how terrible it was, or envision, even care, how the Pokemon might be feeling?

Maybe his father, in the end, was right. Perhaps humans were evil creatures, a plague on the earth.

He clenched a fist. Even if they were, N would change all of their minds. He would give Pokemon their freedom, no matter what it might take. That was the least they deserved.

The sun glared overhead. N shielded his eyes as the people and noise around him began to scatter, and he realized with a start that he had already exited the arena. He spun around. People passed him in groups, talking excitedly.

Where was his father?

He searched the many faces, watching for green hair, waiting for a robe or a burned, charred hand. Panic welled inside of him, an invisible hand clenching his throat. A sour taste permeated his mouth. Ghetsis had been next to him moments ago. Where had his father gone? What had happened to him?

N had been without his father for a short time in Accumula Town, but even then, he knew his father was safe. As a child, if his father was not around, N still knew he was safe because his siblings had assured him so. Ghetsis did not like people. What if he had become embroiled in a fight with someone? No. His father was not like that. He was calm, kind, and helpful. Loving, and-

Someone tapped his shoulder from behind. He broke into a relieved smile, and turned, only to find that it was not Ghetsis, but Luna. His smile stayed. The hand around his throat released its grasp. She was not Ghetsis, no, but she was still a familiar and comforting face.

"Hi, N!" She greeted, returning his smile. She wore a wide-brimmed hat that shielded the attractive features of her face from the sun.

"Ah, Luna! I'm so glad to see you. May I ask if you've seen my father? I can't find him anywhere."

She cocked her head. "He got lost?"

N nodded, still scrutinizing for any sign of him. "Well, more likely that I got lost from him. I'm sure he's searching for me, but yes."

Her face lit up. "Follow me." She wrapped her hand in his. "I think I saw him this way!"

Her excitement was contagious. "Excellent! Thank you, Luna!"

She pulled him through the crowds, holding her hat to her head with the opposite hand so that it did not fall off while they ran. The number of people thinned as they progressed further from the arenas, eventually arriving at the outskirts of the city, where lines of trees stood sentinel over the fields and plant-life beyond. N was panting even before they reached this point - he was not used to so much physical activity - his chest heaving and his heart pounding, but he grinned nonetheless. She knew where his father was.

Luna ducked into the trees, tugging N into the forest after her. The sun glittered past a canopy of leaves. Calls of Pokemon, the crunching of sticks, and the ruffling of bushes replaced the city sounds. N marveled at the juxtaposition between the forest and the city, and how such vibrant life could thrive next to such boisterous human activity.

Eventually, however, as they continued, N's mood became more agitated. Had she seen Ghetsis out in the forest? Surely she wouldn't lie to him. Humans are evil, N. They will try to take advantage of you. Do not extend your trust farther than your father, my son.

N stumbled. The trees suddenly looked as foreboding pillars, their creaks as cries into the wind. The bushes became tangled knots of wire, pulling at him, attempting to twist around his ankles. The wind howled. In the distance, Pokemon screamed. Where was Luna taking him?

Ghetsis. His father was right. He had been right all along. Luna was going to-

They broke into a clearing. Luna let him go, and he fell to his knees, breathing ragged breaths. It wasn't only because of the run that he could not control his breathing, but also because he found himself in awe at the beautiful nature surrounding him.

A field of yellow flowers spread out below them, from where they stood together atop a green hill. In the wind, the flowers swayed like dancers, petals kicked into the air, and pollen stirred. A sweet scent filled the clearing. Cottonees and whimsicotts spun about, carried by the wind, summer deerling hopped amid the flowers, enticed by the smells, and even lilligant poked out of the fields. It was a gorgeous sight to behold.

Luna skipped in front of him, hands intertwined behind her back. She looked delighted. "So? What do you think?"

N pushed himself to a stand. How could he have ever thought that Luna was attempting to bring him harm? All she had wanted to do was show him this.

"It's beautiful, Luna!"

"I knew you'd like it. I've been coming here recently to paint."

"You like to paint?" He asked her, prying his eyes away from the Pokemon. Places such as this were where they were best, where they were happiest.

She nodded. "Yes. I love to."

"Would you show me your work sometime?"

"Of course," she said, sitting down on the slope of the hill. She patted the space beside her. "Come on. Come sit."

He did so, smiling. The wind whipped his hair about. When Luna pulled off her hat, it did the same to her golden locks.

"So. I'm sorry," she said. "Your fathers not anywhere dancing among those flowers. I lied."

N frowned. He'd almost forgotten that was where she was supposed to be bringing him: to Ghetsis. Strangely, however, he couldn't bring himself to be angry with her.

"It's okay," he said, looking back at the flowers. "I'm sure he is fine… though he might be angry with me for losing him in the first place. I… and, please, don't blame yourself, Luna, but I do not like to make him angry."

She laid a hand on his arm. He turned to look at her, and her face was etched with sympathy. "I am sorry, though, but it looked like you could use some time away from your father."

"What do you mean?"

"It just seems like he's overbearing, and doesn't let you do what you want."

N hesitated, then shook his head. He pulled his knees up and laid his arms atop them. "No. He is simply trying to protect me. As a child, I was always venturing off toward one place or the other. He is only trying to keep me safe."

She nodded, then stood. N followed her lead.

"Right. Well, I just wanted to show you this." She smiled. "Let's go find your dad."

She led him by the hand through the forest, backtracking from where they had come. She seemed to know where she was going, and soon the field of flowers disappeared from view, blocked by the many stout tree-trunks and plentiful leaves.

When they finally arrived back in Vertress City, hair jumbled and full of tiny sticks, Ghetsis was waiting for them. The people had since dispersed, and the sun hung low in the sky, painting the horizon a spray of oranges and reds.

Ghetsis stomped over to them; his face shadowed and creased with anger. He had tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robe, but N could see the ripple in the cloth where he gripped it tightly.

N pulled his hand from Luna's grasp, bowing his head. He kept his eyes plastered to the ground. Immediately, he wanted to be anywhere, but there. He wished to hide, to run, and watching the flowers and the dancing Pokemon suddenly felt like the immature activities of a child.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ghetsis boomed. N flinched, sparing a momentary glance at Luna. She challenged his father with determined eyes. No, Luna. Please. Please let the matter go.

"I took N somewhere in the forest," Luna said. N grimaced. "I thought he needed a little bit of freedom."

"You…!" Ghetsis sputtered.

"Yup, that's right. N was trying to find you, but I forced him to come with me. It was my idea."

A hand flung out and girdled around N's arm. His father yanked him forward, towing him away from Luna as if she were a diseased raticate.

"Do not interfere in the affairs of our family!" Ghetsis shouted back at her. "We do not want to be associated with lawless god-for-nothings!"

N stumbled after his father. A heavy lump sat in his throat. He did not look back at Luna.

He did not want her to see his shame.