It's been a really long time since I've updated, hasn't it?

Whoo, sorry everyone. I've been doing a lot of story writing for school.

I'm looking forward to the chapter after this though, so I'll probably get to that one sooner.

Polaris–Ponyta, Tsuki–Serperior, Mamoru–Samurott, Tlaloc-Braviary, Lanfan-Mienfoo, Croatan – Scolipede

The White Stone

I looked down the assembly of trainers, impressed by how many of these powerful people had gathered. The lineup of gym leaders included Elesa, Burgh, Brycen, Cylan, Chili, Cress, Roxie, and Skyla. Even Shauntal, Grimsley, and Alder from the elite four were present.

It was Ben's idea to get in touch with the Unova League. I was too upset from that last encounter with N to think think of it, but Ben took us all back to Icirrus City and Brycen. With Brycen's help, we contacted the members of the Unova League and let them know the new news about Team Plasma.

Alder, the Pokémon League champion, had actually run into team Plasma. Ghetsis had made some vague threat about dethroning him. The gym leaders already had some basic information, but the news that N had paired with Zekrom was alarming to all of them.

"So," Alder said to the assembly of league members, "We need to break into teams. Some of us will prepare to meet Team Plasma at the Pokémon League. Others will gather as much information as possible. And some of you will track down the White Stone, in an attempt to awaken Reshiram. According to Cara, this seems like the surest way to reason with this man called N. And since Cara seems to know him best, she will be on that team."

I nodded, and waited for the rest of the teams to be assigned. Along with Ben and Hari, Shauntal, Grimsley, and Roxie (from a faraway gym in Virbank City) agreed to help us seek the White Stone and awaken Reshiram.

Our group left the gym together.

"Do you guys have any idea where we might find the White Stone?" I asked, glancing at our three new companions.

"Not a clue," Roxie said brightly. She carried a guitar strapped to her back, which made me curious. Hari and I liked to sing (and Ben would join in occasionally too) so I always like good music.

"We might have an idea," Shauntal said, adjusting her glasses.

Grimsley nodded. "Yes, there is a person who might have an idea of the whereabouts of this stone. Unfortunately she hasn't been answering her calls. That's why she wasn't at the meeting."

"Who is it?" Ben asked.

"You probably met her," Shauntal said. "Lenora, the gym leader of Nacrene City."

"Do you think we should head there to meet up with her?" It was a long flight back. And it would be tricky for all of us to get there in a timely manner.

"Hang on," Grimsley said, holding up his hands. "She may not even be there. It's possible she is on her way even now. We should examine our other options until we know for sure."

"Right," Shauntal agreed, nodding. "We go to the tower, where Zekrom awoke. There may be some clues there."

I wasn't sure what they hoped to find, but our group left town and walked toward Dragonspiral Tower. Roxie pulled her guitar out and started strumming and humming along with it. I smiled, and Hari bounced in time with the rhythm. Grimsley and Shauntal seemed used to the musical accompaniment.

"Play 'Let it Go,'" Ben whispered so only I could hear. I laughed and pushed his shoulder.

We arrived at the tower, and let all of our Pokémon out. We started combing through each level, hoping to uncover something left behind by Team Plasma.

But as we moved towards the top of the tower, we were coming up empty.

Finally we reached the top level, with the gaping hole blasted in the wall.

I walked over to it and ran my hand along the electric scorch marks left by Zekrom's power.

A phone trilled and I looked up. Grimsley pulled his phone out and began talking. When he was done, he hung up and addressed us.

"Lenora apologizes for not getting back sooner. There was a bit of trouble at the museum. But there's good news. She can get the white stone for us! She knows where it is."

I stood bolt upright. "Really? How do we get it? Should I fly there and pick it up?"

Grimsley shrugged. "I suppose. You have your Braviary?"

"Yes. I'll leave now," I announced.

Ben looked startled. "Now?"

I nodded. "You guys can finish checking around here. Tlaloc can get me there and back before too long. I'll travel faster on my own."

Hari looked disappointed at having to stay behind.

Ben hesitated. "I guess. Be careful, okay? There's a great big dragon flying around out there."

"I think N is headed in the opposite direction," I muttered. "But we'll be fine. I'll see you this evening!"

I returned the rest of my team, and jumped onto Tlaloc's back. He soared out of the broken wall, and we flew south.

I watched Unova slide away beneath us. We passed Castelia City and cut over the forest, finally touching down in Nacrene City.

I poured some Pokémon chow into a tray for Tlaloc and jogged into the museum.

I could see Lenora across the way, helping to straighten out a display. I glanced around briefly and noticed that something had definitely happened here. Benches and chairs were knocked over, and a couple had shattered. Some of the glass display cases were cracked, and one had been knocked over and reduced to shards of glass and pottery.

"What happened?" I explained.

Lenora looked up. "Ah, you made it. Well, Team Plasma happened. They must have wanted to get their hands on the White Stone. But they forgot that I run a gym here. We managed to chase them out, but they did plenty of damage."

"Yeah, wow. Do you need help with anything?"

Lenora waved her hand. "We've got it covered. The Pokémon are helping too. But you need the White Stone, right?"

I nodded. "How did you find it?"

"We actually had it in the back for a while. It wasn't on display because we didn't know what it was. But when we got word of Team Plasma, and their interest in the Unova legends, we did some research. We came across pictures of the White Stone and realized that it must be the same thing."

Lenora reached into a bag she held and pulled out a stone about the size of a Pokéball. There were strange indentations along its surface. She placed the stone in my hand and I felt a subtle warmth radiating from it.

Intrigued, I ran my fingers along one of the grooves. "How do I wake up Reshiram?"

Lenora threw up her hands. "Heavens, I have no idea, dear. That's not written in any of the legends. That man, N, is the only one who's ever done it. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help, but maybe Grimsley or Shauntal have some ideas."

Well, that was a bit disappointing. But I could probably figure it out myself. I was sure I'd be able to speak to Reshiram. I had once done a very similar thing with something known as the GS ball.

"Thank you. I guess I'll head north again."

"Of course. Once we get everything cleaned up properly, we'll link up with the rest of you. We do have a lot of old books on the legend of the Unova heroes, so there may be something helpful that the others haven't thought of yet."

I left the museum and climbed up onto Tlaloc's back. He sighed and took to the air for the long flight back.

I held my backpack in front of me as we flew, and reached inside to touch the white stone. I closed my eyes and reached out telepathically.

I thought I could feel a faint, distant spark of consciousness within the stone. I called gently.

Nothing.

I reached down further, trying to coax the voice to come out.

Still nothing.

I tugged at it, trying to pull it free, calling continuously. I tried every psychic trick I could think of. And with each failed attempt, I got more frustrated and clumsy. By the end I was practically trying to drag Reshiram out of the stone.

By the time we landed in Icirrus City, I was fuming. Tlaloc edged away from me once I was on the ground. He must have been getting a lot of the bad vibes I was giving off through my telepathy.

Ben came out of the Pokémon Center to greet me, but stopped when he saw the expression on my face.

"What happened?" He exclaimed. "Was the White Stone not there?"

I tried to take a deep breath to steady myself. "No, I got the stone. But I couldn't do anything to wake it up."

Ben nodded. "Well, we'll think of something. Come inside, and lets talk with the others. Maybe they have some ideas."

It was getting dark, and I really needed to be distracted from my anger, so I returned Tlaloc and followed Ben into the Pokémon Center.

They had found a few small clues in the Tower, but nothing that gave us any new information. I passed the White Stone around, but they didn't have any ideas about what to do with it."

"I think the best bet," Shauntal said. "Is to bring the stone to that N guy. You said that he wanted to battle you, right? Maybe he'll just tell you how to awaken Reshiram."

The moment she said it, if felt completely obvious. I nodded. "That works. I guess if I go to the Pokémon league, I'll find him eventually."

"I don't think you should go straight there though," Grimsley said. "N's goal is to become the new Pokémon Master, right? So perhaps you should get your final gym badge on the way. And of course, that will give you more opportunity to train and figure out the stone."

"But I don't need time," I objected. "The sooner we stop N, the better."

"I don't think there's any rush," Roxie assured me. "Alder is the one N is after. He'll let us know if N shows up. Until that time, you should do everything you can to prepare."

"As should we," Grimsley said. "Shauntal and I had better return to the league to prepare for this young man."

Shauntal smiled. "I can't imagine he'll be able to get through all of us."

"Or course not," Roxie said with bright confidence.

I didn't want to dishearten them. But I could fully imagine a skilled trainer like N plowing through the Pokémon League with a beast like Zekrom at his side.

"Well," Roxie said, "I have to return to my gym soon, but if you'd like I can travel with you for a couple days and be your training partner."