"Hmm," Ash said, checking Arc's screen. "It looks like we could either go to Virbank, or to Humilau, or we could go down to Aspertia City where Bianca's friend Cheren has set up his new gym."

Iris didn't have to think for more than a second or two. "Not Aspertia," she said. "If that's a new gym, it might actually be bad for his growth as a Gym Leader for you to flatten him like I'm sure you will."

"That's a bit harsh," Cilan judged. "But I think Iris makes a good point, Ash. I recommend you pick between Humilau and Virbank."

Ash nodded. "I guess that's a good point… which of them do you think would be better, Arc?"

"Assuming that the region remains the same shape, then it would be quicker to get to Virbank," Arc said. "Humilau is a bit further away, but it is also very close to the site of the Pokémon League. However, if you pick Humilau, there are several cities you are likely to miss."

Ash considered that.

"So, uh, Humilau Gym is Water type, and Virbank is – oh, Poison type?" Ash brightened. "I've definitely done more Water type gyms than Poison type, so Virbank sounds like a better plan."

"Turn left at the next junction," Arc told him.

"It might be nice if we could drop in on Humilau to get some tips about Water types," N requested. "You and your Pokémon have been great at developing my style, but it'd be good to get as many different opinions as possible."

He tapped his hoof against the floor. "Though I know I really need to sort out what to do with Team Plasma at some point."

"We'll help out if you want," Ash said. "And if you want to handle it yourself, we'll respect that too. We'll even do the kind of in-between-y bit where you get a chance to sort it out yourself but if that goes wrong we'll come in and help."

"You're a good friend, Ash," N said, then looked up as they rounded a bend in the path. "Isn't that a train station?"

"Correct," Arc said. "Much of the route to Virbank involves going places you have already been. The train is a quick way of travelling which does not mean asking for lifts from flying Pokémon, at least until you reach the coast."

"I have a question," Cilan raised his hand. "When you plan out a route like that, is it like when a human does it? Flipping through charts and so on and taking the best guess? Or is it like a computer?"

He shrugged. "I heard once that that kind of thing's hard to do for computers, and I realized I wasn't sure which way you did it more like."

Ash's phone pulsed gold. "I am the lowercase Alpha and the lowercase Omega, though despite that I am not merely in alpha. The travelling salesman problem holds no concerns for me."

The golden glow died down. "Also, there is a convenient online tool."

The friends sorted out their tickets, and boarded the train, but as soon as they did they found some unexpected fellow passengers.

"Team Rocket again!" Ash gasped. "What are you doing this time?"

"Based on our experience so far, tourism," Pikachu guessed.

"Yeah, da mouse has got it right," Meowth agreed. "There was this travel package, it said, see the mountains of Unova."

"And it sounded fabulous!" James said, pulling a rose from nowhere that could be easily discerned. "The beautiful soaring peaks, mantled by ice and dusted with trees! The steep drops to the mighty rivers!"

"The problem is," Jessie finished. "They didn't say how many of the mountains we'd be seeing from the inside. We've seen so many rail tunnels I think I'm starting to understand Woobat."

"It ain't dat hard, they're psychic," Meowth shrugged.

"Then I guess we're going the same way," Iris said. "Though… if it's that bad, can't you quit the travel package early?"

All three Rockets looked scandalized.

"And give up the free meals?" James demanded. "These trains have a buffet car, and all-you-can-eat is a kind of buffet, so we're not giving up that opportunity!"

"Speakin' of which, I feel hungry," Meowth said. "Let's go get some more!"

Ash and the others watched them head off down the swaying train.

"I should really meet someone else from Kanto some time," Iris decided. "Before my mental image of what people from Kanto are like becomes even weirder."

Then there was a sort of splitterplash on both sides of the train, then a loud thump on the roof, and the inspection hatch fell inwards with a wham.

A non-shiny Keldeo fell through, then sprang to his hooves.

"Oh, hi Ash!" he said. "Hello, other Keldeo. I didn't know you were near where I live!"

"Recalculating route," Arc announced. "Estimating delay."

They got off at the next station, and Keldeo led them back to where the Swords of Justice were staying.

"I asked Cobalion about it, once," he said. "Why it is that we keep moving around, but not that far. And he said I'd understand when I was older."

The Water-type tossed his neck in a shrug. "Then I asked Virizion and she said it's because there are some places which are better for training than others, so we move around between them. So Cobalion was right, I did understand when I was older."

Cilan chuckled. "There's nothing wrong with asking for help to figure out a mystery ingredient."

"I'd rather not eat anything cooked with a mystery ingredient," Iris winced. "I'd be okay with something cooked with an unusual ingredient, maybe, but if the chef doesn't know what they put in the meal…"

"Well, of course!" Cilan replied, still smiling. "But any chef worth their seasoning has to find new meals which taste good, and one of the best ways to do that is to try the food made by others!"

"Is this still a metaphor?" Ash asked. "Because I used to think I had one of those for a moment, but it turned out to be Mew."

Iris looked at Ash suspiciously. "I can't tell if that's a joke or not."

While they'd been talking, N was frowning.

"Ash, you know Keldeo, right?" he asked. "What's he like?"

"He's one of the Swords of Justice," Ash replied. "He's a good Pokémon – I think you can trust him. More than most, even."

"That's not what I meant, but… I think it's answered my question anyway," N decided. "Keldeo, I want to know… do you think I'm doing all right at being a Keldeo?"

"Well, I only just met you, so I'd just have to ask Ash what you're like," Keldeo replied. "I can guess you're a human, though, partly because you used the generic-name form of my name. It trips a lot of people up, even people who speak Pokémon language."

"Mew mentioned something like that when she was teaching me to speak Keldeo," N agreed. "I think that was the bit that was hardest to get right, so I'm not surprised I didn't quite pronounce it properly."

Keldeo glanced to the side, at N, then smiled. "And I think you're doing just fine," he added.

"Indeed you are," Reshiram confirmed, popping out of N's mane. "Take it from me, I'm a Dragon of Truth. There is a reason Mew's potion turned you into a Keldeo, N, and you wear it well."

N smiled. "Thank you, Reshiram."

"So," Terrakion said, once they'd reached the training ground of the Swords of Justice and been introduced. "You're also a Keldeo, huh? That's interesting."

He paused, for quite a long time.

"Is something wrong?" N asked.

"Not really, just trying to work out what to say," Terrakion said. "Hmm… oh, want to see how to kick a rock in half using just a hoof?"

N looked conflicted.

"That would actually be interesting to learn," he admitted.

"Now, now," Cobalion said. "N isn't a trainee Sword of Justice."

"Oh, yeah, good point," Terrakion admitted. "That means we can't train you. I think. Actually, do we have that rule?"

"We do," Cobalion confirmed, a little more testily.

"Isn't there some way N could be a trainee Sword of Justice?" Keldeo asked. "An honorary one? If he wants to be, at least, because I wouldn't want to insist that he become one when he doesn't want to be… wait, what about Kyurem?"

"Kyurem?" Iris repeated. "There's a Kyurem around here?"

"Yeah, he lives in what I think is an old mine," Keldeo confirmed. "All the Swords of Justice have challenged him, it's like a rite of passage."

"Yeah, that would work!" Ash said. "If challenging Kyurem is a rite of passage, then N could challenge Kyurem to see how well he does… unless Kyurem's really horrible then he wouldn't hurt N deliberately, and since the Swords of Justice haven't done Justice on him then he can't be really horrible."

"Well, there's the secret of how you don't have to win exposed in ten seconds," Terrakion grumbled.

Virizion laughed. "I think you just did that," she said.

"...I knew I shouldn't have said anything," the Rock-type sighed.

"This is Full Court," Cobalion told them, as Keldeo cantered ahead. "It is indeed an old mine, but it is also an old steelworks."

"Wow," Iris breathed. "I wonder why it was abandoned."

"I was not able to inquire," Cobalion answered.

"Kyurem!" Keldeo called, slowing to a halt. "We'd like to talk!"

For several seconds, there was nothing, then the ground shook faintly.

Kyurem's every step made the ground jump, and he emerged from the depths of his cave before regarding Keldeo impassively.

"Yes?" he asked.

Then he noticed the group standing a little way behind Ash.

"...are you trying to impress a girlfriend?" he added. "If so, congratulations, though realize that I will not hold back."

"I am… not sure how to take that," N confessed quietly.

"No, N is… well, I think it's better if he explains himself," Keldeo decided.

Kyurem visibly contemplated that.

"A boyfriend?" he checked. "Sorry for assuming."

N trotted up to join Keldeo.

"I have only just met Keldeo, and that sort of thing isn't why we're here," he began. "And, well, this is probably going to take a while to explain. And then a longer while to prove."

"No, it will not," Reshiram interrupted, flying out of N's mane. "You are the Hero of Truth, and I will vouch for the Truth of your words."

Keldeo looked at Reshiram, then back at N.

"It's actually been a while since I last saw a Reshiram, but aren't they usually bigger?" he checked.

Ash's Zekrom burst out of his Luxury Ball.

"Correct!" Zekrom declared. "Which means that, since Reshiram spends most of his time shrunken down, he's not being a True Reshiram since they're the Vast White Pokémon and he's not being Vast! While I, who sometimes shrinks down when I feel it's appropriate, am the Ideal Zekrom!"

"You're not Deep, though," Reshiram shot back.

"And a Zekrom as well, I see," Kyurem said. "Suddenly I'm remembering why the King's sons getting in an argument was such a trigger for the split…"

"Actually, that is quite closely related to why I'm here," N told him. "You see, my father's organization – Team Plasma – has named me as their King, and while that means a lot of things…"

The Pokémon-ified human shook his head, as overhead Reshiram and Zekrom got properly indulged into their bicker session. "Some of the members of Team Plasma are not the sort of people I want to trust with anything," he said. "Especially my father. And yet, I want to understand how to be a proper King, even if it's only of a few people."

Kyurem considered that, then nodded with grace.

"I can tell you what I remember," he said.

Iris raised her hand.

"Yes?" Kyurem asked.

"I was wondering if I could have a talk too," Iris explained. "About… well, about dragons, really. I've got a goal to be a Dragon master, but most of my Pokémon aren't Dragon type, and I…"

She trailed off a bit. "I wanted to get your insight into what the essence of working with Dragons is."

"...if I could sum up all I have told you in a single phrase," Kyurem concluded, "this lesson wouldn't have taken nearly as long. But a good summary would be, authority amplifies both right and wrong decisions and so you must take great care with them all."

"Thank you," N said. "I am not yet ready to return to being human, but when I am I will be guided by your advice."

Kyurem's head tilted a little. "Return to being human?"

"It's surprisingly hard to remember to mention that bit," N realized, looking abashed.

Kyurem chuckled for a moment, looked up to see if Reshiram and Zekrom were finished yet – they weren't – then turned his attention to Iris.

"And you?" he said. "Before I answer your question, I wish to ask you one. Why are dragons the Pokémon you are most interested in?"

"Well, I… don't actually know if I am," Iris confessed. "Dragons have always impressed me since I was young, they were always the most amazing Pokémon I saw as a kid, but I always thought Excadrill was an exception. And now I have Emolga as well, and Archeops, and – well, I don't know what to think?"

Kyurem said nothing, just looking at her, and Iris huffed.

"Why are you just looking at me like that?" she asked. "It makes me feel like I'm missing something obvious."

"Perhaps you are," Kyurem said. "Or perhaps it's not obvious at all. You said that you saw amazing Pokémon when you were young. How did you meet them?"

"Well, most of them were in the village, or at Opelucid Academy," Iris answered.

"And who lives and works there?" Kyurem asked.

"Well, uh, the village is a village of dragon tamers," Iris replied. "And Opelucid Academy is associated with Opelucid Gym, Drayden runs it…"

She stopped.

"Oh," she realized. "It's because the Pokémon who impressed me when I was young were – the strongest trainers I saw were all Dragon Tamers."

"Correct," Kyurem said.

He looked up at Reshiram and Zekrom, now trying to work out how to thumb-wrestle with Zekrom trying to also work out how to not remind Reshiram he was still tiny, and spoke again. "Reshiram is Truth, and Zekrom Ideals," he explained. "But neither of those is the complete picture. Nor even is either of them truly consistent, for ideals can lead you to doing terrible things and true statements can mislead. But what do you think is left, if you de-emphasize both Truth and Ideals?"

That was one that completely stumped Iris, and she shook her head. "Sorry."

"It's something I wonder myself," Kyurem admitted. "Thinking About Things Sensibly is a good start, though."

Cilan had a few questions too, about the flavour implications of having a dish which could benefit equally well from two different kinds of seasoning, but he was only halfway through asking when the ground began to shake.

"It's collapsing!" Keldeo gasped.

Kyurem whistled, and a hundred Crygonal came swooping out of a nearby cave. They fired Ice Beams everywhere, and the shaking stopped.

"This happens every so often," he told them. "What, you think this would have been fine for decades and then just decide to collapse?"

"Honestly, that doesn't sound too unrealistic," Iris admitted. "If it's going to collapse at all, it's going to start collapsing all at once… right?"

She spread her arms. "I don't know, but that's what I'd assume."

"Well, the first time it started to collapse, I got the Crygonal to freeze it in place, and it's worked since then," Kyurem said. "Though perhaps I should consider letting it all cave in while I'm outside and then working from there."

"If you want help, we'd be able to give it," Keldeo offered.

"And I could have Boldore and some of the others help, too," Ash added. "If you want to do it some time soon, that is."

"I don't want to rush, so I'll think about it," Kyurem said. "Thank you all for the conversation, in case I forget to say that later."

After they'd finished with the Swords of Justice, and Ash had had a little practice spar with all four members (both without and then with the benefit of Pikachu's help on the Key Stone) they went up to the mountains over Full Court, to take in the scenery.

"This really is a beautiful place," Cilan sighed. "It's good to stop and remember that from time to time."

"Yeah," Iris agreed. "The sunlight on the forest, the water, the mountain peaks…"

She frowned. "The, uh, blimp…"

"Blimp?" Ash repeated, then saw it. "Oh, yeah. Huh, that's unusual. Is it me, or is it headed this way?"

They watched for the next few minutes as it slowly approached, then a door opened on the gondola.

"Twerps!" Meowth called. "You gotta help us!"

"I swear I thought it was an interactive exhibit!" James agreed. "We were stopped off in Roshan City looking at the museum of abandoned public transport, and I hit the wrong button!"

"Recalculating journey again," Arc said.

AN:

This film didn't even technically have a villain before.