There's no undo, and there's no repeat,

Can't go back to how we used to be.

There's no restart but only proceed,

Take up from where we've left off and see.

-Ga1ahad and Scientific Witchery by Mili


The city was overcrowded of people, skyscrapers, houses and buildings. Definitely a place N would avoid at all costs if it weren't for this peculiar situation. The exhaust from a billion cars filled the atmosphere and that, combined with the sewage from a local power station fused to the creation of the most pungent, vulgar smell known to mankind.

The tall skyscrapers that reached out to the skies were just too much for a huge dragon such as Reshiram to land, setting the panicking citizens aside, thus they had to land at Nimbasa city, the closest city possible to Castelia.

Waiting for the people around to stay clear of the amusement park took a good few minutes, with the help of a few wild pokemon who chased away the people before Reshiram landed – to avoid casualties from being squashed by the giant fluff dragon.

As if every second mattered, N jumped off Reshiram as soon as the fall wouldn't hurt him, hesitating to withdraw Reshiram back into its ball and tugged at his guide, urging her to hurry up. He wasn't familiar with the city, and finding it himself would take up too much time in a city as large as this, which is the purpose of him bringing the blonde girl along. Bianca was already fatigued from the flight, probably before that even, but N was too preoccupied with finding Touko that he hadn't realized, or didn't bother to care.

She missed her chance to ask earlier as the wind drowned out every single sound she could make, but now that they were on the ground, "What are you going to do when you see her?" questioned Bianca, stopping in her tracks. Surrounded by houses and buildings, Bianca knew N couldn't summon Reshiram easily without breaking a few of them, which she hopes he still had the reason in him.

At this, a few wild Purrloins and Patrats immediately surrounded her, despite N's arm still digging into her skin, all fangs bared and ready to strike if she makes any movement. But they backed down as soon as N waved a hand at them.

"I'll bring her to the castle," N replied briefly, pulling at Bianca's arm to get her to move, but this time she stubbornly planted her feet to the ground.

Bianca had been hesitant to let them meet, seeing as how unstable Touko was the last she saw her. But the way they treated her only proved her gut feeling right.

'They must not meet,' the words resounded in Bianca's mind like a spell as she raised her hand, pursing her lips she whipped it across the pale slender hand hurting her. The crack of skin contacting skin echoed as vibrations of pain started in her palm, spreading to all the way to her fingertips. Her palm was glowing bright red, a similar red mark that matched the one on N's hand. He stared at Bianca with his eyes wide open, Bianca now withdrawing her released arm from him.

She should've felt some kind of remorse, hitting someone she barely knew wasn't something she would do if she were her normal self. But she didn't. Not one organ in her body could produce guilt for her actions as she threw one of her pokeballs to the ground beside her, "Musharna, stop N from meeting Touko!"


Tap. Tap.

Touko lifted her head in response. Her eyes had been red and puffy from the crying, but thanks to it she had most probably calmed down, for now. Rubbing her eyes to clear the haziness, the person who stood before her was none other than the doctor himself. Turning over to the operation room, indeed the light has gone off.

'How is mom? Is she alright? Can I see her now?' all the questions popped up from her head, but her voice refused to cooperate, not a single word was spoken. She wanted to know how her mother was doing, yet she was afraid of the answer.

Ignorance was truly a bliss.

The doctor was a man in his middle fifties, face timeworn and wrinkled, she noted. He had crouched down so that they can meet each other eye to eye, and it seemed as if he was trying to piece together what to say as well.

"Your mother's life isn't in danger," he blurted after seconds of silence.

Touko was about to burst into another fit of tears, but tears of relief – if she hadn't saw the doctor's expression. He wasn't smiling. Tensed, mixed emotions showed which only meant that wasn't all to the case. She remained silent, eyes waiting and pleading for his explanation, hands still gripping, trembling against Samurott's pokeball.

"It was just… not her lucky day," after inhaling a deep breath, the doctor's deep voice explained, "The impact on her brain was too much, causing the layers of the brain to bleed. The injured side of the brain compresses and swells, causing damage to the brainstem and the RAS-"

Her mind just shut off at that point. The doctor was speaking, yet it sounded as if it were an alien language to her. Well, she didn't do THAT well in her biology exams when she was still in the Academy, but she couldn't understand a word until –

"She'll be in an indefinite coma."

The words hit her harder than any beating she had ever taken in the world.

As if the world had collapsed, her broken heart was still for a moment, she only felt numbness. Her mind went blank, as did her heart.

"Whether she wakes up or not would depend on her emotional state, and also her will," glumly, "There is only so much our technology and medication can do. This must be hard on you, Ms. White, but please hang in there. Your mother should be alright for visiting in an hour or so."

"Thank you..." the hero said weakly, unsteady on her feet as she stood up. The doctor had offered her his hand, but she merely shrugged it off. For now, she needed time to be alone-

And it was that moment the doors slammed open.


"Zoroark, Night Slash!" N commanded as his Zoroark, yet again, landed a critical hit onto Musharna. The frail looking tapir pokemon, once again flew back due to the impact. Bianca ran as fast as her feet could take her, reaching out and catching it in her arms, cushioning its fall but stumbled backwards on the ground along with her pokemon.

Bianca knew N was strong, he is the leader of team Plasma after all, even if he was just a figure head, but she hadn't expect him to be this strong. It was only his first pokemon, Zoroark and her whole team had been wiped off the floor clean. The one remaining pokemon left standing was none other than her first pokemon, Musharna. 'How does Touko even stand on par with him?' Bianca laughed dryly, brushing off the dirt on her shirt.

"Musharna, you are wiser than this! Know what's right and back down, I don't want to hurt you anymore than this!" N reasoned, his compassion towards pokemon is definitely much more than what he spared for humans. "Leave this battle, and your trainer if you can!" Zoroark crying along as if he was repeating what N had said.

But Musharna stood in between them. The lights in its eyes were yet to be gone as it glowed in a pale green light.

'Recover again?' even Bianca was taken aback. That was the only reason why Musharna was still standing despite all the blows, including the attribute damage. As her longtime partner, Bianca knew far well than anyone else that Musharna was already going way past its limit.

It was stalling for time.

Musharna could only use five recovers per match without break, but this was its seventh. She was starting to get worried.

The battle halted as N didn't issue any commands, Zoroark standing by his side. From the looks of it, they were probably conversing in their own language.

"First Touko and now this, why does everything affiliated with that trainer mess up all my calculations?" N muttered under his breath.

'You will not pass here,' Musharna's cry was filled with resolve despite its battered up body.

"I want to bring her to Anthea and Concordia, they are well versed in medications and will know how to heal her!" N reasoned, "Then we will have our match and everything will be solved! So why do you stand in my way?"

'You are far too naive, young king,' it said, getting into its battle stance. 'That will only make it worse. Just leave it to my master and her friends!'

'And how long will that be, huh?' Zoroark snorted, 'The two humans will heal her in no time, and then we will finally be free, stop delaying our plans!'

"I thought I could trust you with Touko," disheartened, Bianca pointed at him angrily, "You blockhead!"

"Blockhead?" he turned his attention to Bianca at the insult, "What gives you the right to call me tha-"

"You don't understand how delicate a human heart is! At all!" she cried as Musharna head-butted Zoroark right against the head, the latter flinching back with a pained cry, "Now I'm regretting completely on trusting you!"

"What a coincidence, I no longer have any use of you then," N retorted, "Zoroark, crush her! I'll find the place myself!"

"Bring it on!" Bianca stammered slightly at his declaration. She didn't care what happened to her, but it was heart wrenching to see her Musharna getting beaten up right before her eyes. In one fell swoop Musharna was knocked back for too many times to count. Bianca was ready to catch it once more, arms open and she could feel herself falling backwards. Bracing herself for impact she steeled herself, eyes closed.

Poof.

'Poof?' her brain was confused. The ground felt like a well fluffed feather pillow, warm and cozy. She opened her eyes that had been screwed shut and blinked twice, a ruffled patch of feathers greeting her sight.

"Well said, Bianca!" a roar thundered, the sound of feet landing on the ground loud and clear. Sure, there was only one man Bianca knew who would laugh so outrageously, taking off her glasses to inspect the lenses.

"Champion Alder?"

"The one and only," a grin so bright it could've blinded her, Alder now stood back against her, facing her opponent. "My bad for coming late, I never thought the day would come that I get to witness a battle between you and N," he chuckled and caressed the Braviary who had brought him here, "It was too interesting that I couldn't help but spectate."

"A little help earlier would be appreciated," Bianca pouted hugging her Musharna, the stress she had earlier completely dissipated in the atmosphere, "Thanks for helping, Braviary," stroking its feathers Braviary cooed in response happily.

Alder despaired, "What, no gratitude for me?"

"Says the spectator, Braviary was the one who helped," Bianca eyed him as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the red zone.

"She's right," N nodded in sync with Zoroark from a distance.

"My pride as an ex-champion," Alder kneeled on the floor in further despair, "All gone, with the wind."

'Did you even have any?' four pairs of eyes blinked in unison.

"Ahem," the ex-champion coughed before the current champion, "Bianca, it's alright for them to meet."

'He's definitely changing the topic,' both trainers and pokemon locking each other's eyes in mutual understanding, Zoroark rolling an eye at him even.

"I just got news," he pointed, "Check your Xtransceiver."

Swiftly gazing down to turn on hers, she fiddled between channels until she stopped at the local news.

"We're live and back from commercial break - Reporter Jeanne is there right now, let's look at the condition outside Castelia Hospital, Jeanne, can you hear me?" a lady was shown on the screen, N leaning closer to listen.

"Test, hello?" the screen switched to the lady whom probably went by the name 'Jeanne', "As you can see, the condition outside the hospital is absolutely bizarre!" she exclaimed, "There are so many people around, all protesting against the hero Touko, it is too packed up to even go close- wait I see her! Cameraman, over there!" the focus of the camera changed to the outdoor park of the hospital, due to the magnification the figure was blurred, but anyone would be able to recognize the hero with her bushy ponytail behind even if they couldn't see her face.

"The hero said whoever who wants an interview, or to meet and talk to her has to first beat her in a double battle," one of the bystander there explained, N grimacing at the word 'battle'. "Apparently all 12 challengers were all defeated with one hit KOs."

"Double battle?" puzzled, Bianca paused the airing, quickly screenshot the picture and enlarged it.

A familiar shade of scarlet, probably a hat was seen blur in the image. Bianca and Alder both knew only one person who would wear that along with the sky blue jacket in the image, a huge unknown pokemon standing beside him.

"Touya is back!" Bianca shrieked in joy at this, N who was now standing beside her to watch jumped in shock, earning a snicker from his Zoroark.

N immediately took a few steps back, his face slightly darkening, "Who is Touya?"

"Oh, he's Touko's-"

Alder's voice was muffled, a hand covering before he could utter the continuation. He now stared at the owner of the hand - Bianca.

"None of your concern, if Touko is up and about wrecking trainers and reporters, she could most probably wreck you as well," smirked Bianca, her words earning a snarl from both Zoroark and N.

Bianca chuckling inside on how easy it was to provoke him (and advert his attention), N bursted, "She will not win against me, for I am the Hero of Truth!"

"Save your fancy language for later if you win, won't you?" Bianca provoked further, "Touko is strong!"

"Then show me the way, overconfident woman," N let off a disgruntled growl.

"Of course, your Majesty," she replied along with a curtsy.

N seemed contented with it, nodding his head satisfyingly.

"You do know that was sarcasm, right?" Bianca was dumbfounded at his reaction.

"I do not," he replied so earnestly that Bianca and Alder almost choked on her own laughter, "Now hurry up and show the way!"

"Before that," Alder grabbed their attention, "Wait for a few seconds, it should almost be here."

"You brought back up?" N was on high alert now.

"Ah, there it is," holding a hand to cover his eyes from the bright sunlight, a shadow flew above them, landing down as soon as it spotted them.

Bianca immediately paled at the panting creature with grey feathers.

"Unfezant!" she shrieked again and hugged, "Oh my GOD. I'm so so soooooo sorry!"

"Cheren will definitely be pissed if he knew," Alder laughed, causing Bianca's to turn a shade paler.


When the doors started to slam Touko knew the shouting match was just getting started. After that everyone would be stampeding in, igniting the air that has been left brittle by the news. Tears were already brimming in her eyes and it took almost all of her efforts to stop them from falling off again.

However, as soon a figure came in, that person slammed the door shut with a bang, keeping the rest out of the room. Taking off his hat, a head of messy brown hair came into view. "Hey sis," he said awkwardly, walking and sitting right next to Touko.

"Touya..." as soon as she muttered his name, her tears had fell down the third time for the day. "Mom was-"

"I heard everything from Cheren," he interrupted, "You don't need to say anything. Aunt White will be alright, don't worry," giving her a consoling hug, "Everything will be alright," he repeated, hands gently stroking her hair to calm her down.

Touya. Touko's cousin. A person whom Touko looks up to, not only as a big brother figure, but also as a trainer. She had learnt all the basics of battling and survival skills from him, and even now his battling skills were probably equal, or even better than hers. He was most probably the most suitable person to offer her reassurance, which Cheren knew best.

"Weren't you," Touko sniffled, her cousin handing her a tissue to blow her nose with, "in Kanto?" she continued.

"I was nearby by coincidence, I only pushed my plans forward a little sooner when Cheren called," Touya decided mentioning he came to watch her big battle was not to be spoken of as of now.

"I see..." breaking the hug, Touko sat beside, giving another blow to the tissue in hand.

"Look at the mess you're in," he chuckled, "There are even fans and reporters waiting for you outside now, how you've grown."

"That is indeed a problem," Touko chortled along, "A hero level problem."

"Do you remember the easiest and most effective way to shut pushy people up?" Touya stood up, a hand reached out to his cousin. She hesitated slightly, one hand still holding onto Samurott's pokeball, the other placed gently in Touya's palm, the boy supporting her up from her slump.

"How could I forget?" Wiping away her tears she straightened up her posture and clothes. Though her eyes were puffy she was too fed up to care. She might as well use this as a chance to distract herself for the moment.

Instead of sitting and waiting for them to barge in, potentially disturbing the patients and doctors working inside, Touko and Touya both jumped out from the window, which was on the second floor to their advantage.

Touya had jumped first, landing to the branch of a tall tree right beside the window. Now extending his hand, Touko jumped right after, both of them now landing on the warm grass of the outdoor hospital park, the doctor gaped from the window in disbelief.

"The hero is over here!" Touya shouted from the top of his lungs, the few patients strolling by diverted their gaze to them, the scoop hungry reporters as well. They had all gathered in the park which no longer seem large due to the mass gathering, but left enough space around the duo for a battle.

"Listen up, those who are unsatisfied with me as a hero, those who wish to ask me questions, those who are just unhappy with my existence!" Touko's voice projected loud and clear around her, "Come at me not with words, but with battles! Prove that me and my decisions were wrong, and I will make an official statement to the Elite Four that I, the Hero of Ideals forfeit this match!"

"You mean 'us'," Touya stepped up to stand beside her. "Those who have the confidence to beat us in a double battle, come forward," his hands already on his poke balls, "I've always wanted to try out my Kanto partners against the people here!"

'So that was his intentions,' even his own partner, Touko was baffled at Touya's new partner.

Several trainers were seen holding up their pokedex, the target of its camera was none other than the huge pokemon unknown to Unovians.

"Snorlax," a pokedex resounded, "A docile pokemon that children use its expansive belly as a place to play. Its stomach can digest any food, even if it is moldy or rotten. It stops eating only to sleep."

A few trainers were seen visibly relaxed when they saw the word 'docile', a few lining up to challenge the duo.

The first was a motorcyclist full of confidence, "I'm a heartbreaker... My name... Charles," calling out a Zebstrika almost immediately, "I'm always on full throttle," along with a School kid who seemed to have been forcefully made to join the double battle, using a Simisage.

And both were squashed.

Samurott barely moved before Snorlax stood up, changing its direction before falling back against the ground, squashing the two pokemon underneath with almost no effort.

"Hey, you," Touya's eyes squinted out into the audience, where a young boy and girl stood together. They were startled at the sudden attention, the young girl hugging the Purrloin in her arms tightly. Immediately feeling bad for his tone, Touya squat down in front of the dark blue-haired boy, "I won't eat you. You're too close to the ring, back down a little."

The boy covered his sister protectively from Touya, making him feel even guiltier. At this, Touko also came forward, "We're sorry for scaring you," patting the kid on his head, "But can you help out elder sister and brother here?"

"Brother! It's the hero!" the sister cried in joy, "She's talking to us!" Touya seemed slightly discouraged at the difference in reaction.

Touko laughed and ruffed the little girl's hair, "Come over here," she said as she carried the little girl in her arms, her elder brother looking distressed.

"You can stand here if you want?" Touya pointed at the ground beside him. It would do no good if his tiny boy was caught in between attacks.

The boy stared at the ground, eyes fixed on Touya before saying with a straight face, "Don't wanna," walking and standing by Touko's side.

'…This is why I hate kids,' Touya murmured, irritated, "Next challenger!"