"Are we almost there yet?" Bianca moaned. I could feel Cheren's anger radiating off of him, Bianca never understood the concept of patience which pissed Cheren off to no end.

"How many times are you going to ask that damn question?" He snapped, I glanced at him in shock. It took a lot to make him snap, better yet, curse. Bianca raised her hands almost as if something were being thrown at her face. I took a few steps away from Cheren at that point; he looked at the both of us slightly confused.

"What? Am I not allowed to get mad?"

"It's not that… I don't think you've ever blown up like that before though." I replied, my expression still that of shock. Bianca, on the other hand, wouldn't say a word. She just stood there, paralyzed. Cheren looked at her and realized what he said.

"I'm sorry Bianca, I didn't mean to yell at you.." His gaze was aimed at the ground. Personally I couldn't blame him for yelling, Bianca did get extremely annoying with her overly enthusiastic attitude, but she was still a good friend.

"It's okay.. You just scared me a little. I've never seen you so mad before, I'm sorry I got so annoying too."

"Awe, what a touching moment this is." I chuckled and took out my camera.

"Hey! You better not be thinking of recording this!"

"Oh? And why not dearest Ren?" His cheeks flushed a light pink after I said that. I chuckled even more and took a picture before it wore off. That probably wasn't the best idea though since he began chasing me in an attempt to snatch the camera from me. Probably to delete the pic, he knows how I am with them.

"All right, all right, I give.." Cheren huffed trying to catch his breath; he was leaning over with his hands on his knees breathing heavily.

"Well, now you can't say you didn't work out at all." I laughed, Bianca joined me soon after.

"Yeah, yeah, you're so funny." He growled, positioning himself upward again. "Let's go, we're almost at Accumula Town."

"Coming!" Bianca shouted, she ran over to Cheren and walked by his side. I found that so adorable, Bianca's always liked Cheren, he just never really noticed. Talk about oblivious.

[ In Accumula Town ]

It had only taken us another hour or so to make it to Accumula Town; it was such a beautiful and serene place… Well, all except for the ruckus coming from some group of whack-jobs over on a small hill.

"What're they talking about? I can't hear them." I complained. Cheren walked ahead of me with this serious expression on his face. I wonder what's wrong with him. I thought as I followed closely behind, Bianca was already off somewhere, most likely in the Ice-Cream shop we passed on the way. I walked up behind Cheren and whispered in his ear, "What's going on here?"

"I'm not sure; this guy is saying something about releasing your pokemon?"

"… Has there ever been the consideration that it might not be? Trainers order Pokemon to do whatever they please… They work them under the guise of being partners.. What if that were to be prevented by someone to clearly divide them?" Gasps of shock and confusion could be heard all around as an odd man continued his speech atop the small hill in front of Cheren and I. What is this guy saying?

The man walked to the right side of his "stage" and continued, "Don't you agree everyone? Pokemon are creatures whose sheer potential is limited by humans. We are beings who feel they must study a great many things. But what should we humans do to be ambassador to the oppressed Pokemon?" More confused and questioning responses came from the crowd around us. I was tired of standing around listening to this man.

"Who are you?" I shouted out, making my way through the crowd. The man glared at me with his hideous eyes and scoffed at my question.

"Who are you to interrupt my liberation speech?"

"I asked you first." My face showed no emotions, I was completely serious. This man had been going on about how we suppress Pokemon, hurt them, and whatnot. I found it to be ridiculous, and so I wasn't going to stand around allowing him to fill the minds of these town's people with nothing but lies.

"Fine, I am Ghetsis of Team Plasma."

"Team Plasma? Sounds pathetic if you ask me." I retorted, crossing my arms.

"Valaina, get down here!" Cheren demanded, I shook my head furiously and glared at the so called "Ghetsis".

"Stop filling these people's heads with lies! We're doing nothing wrong to our Pokemon, we love and care for each and every one of them! Not once have we forced them to do something they didn't want to do! I don't know who you think you are to come and accuse everyone of doing something so horrible to those we care about!"

"Val…" Cheren stared at me in awe, he'd never seen this side of me. Both Bianca and Cheren knew I always had a high amount of determination, but neither of them have ever seen me in action.

"Lies? What's this girl talking about?"

"Yeah, who is she? She interrupted this man's speech."

"I don't know, but she seems cute.."

All the town's people mumbled among themselves trying to figure out what exactly was going on at that moment. Of course they were in shock; some random girl coming and barging in on some guy's speech. He was random as well though. "Stop confusing these people!" I bellowed, my blood now boiling from anger.

"Who are you to accuse me of confusing these people when you're doing the same? I hear much chatter about whom you might be and why you've interrupted me." A sly grin came across his face; he turned to face the people once again. "People, I thank you for your time. Think about what I have said, you Pokemon deserve better. We have no right to limit their freedom! Think of what's best for them!" He turned and took his leave, his minions followed him closely; surrounding him on all sides for protection.

"Val, why are you so reckless?" Cheren shouted as he ran up to me. The town's people dispersed after seeing him leave a look of confusion still evident on their faces.

"I don't know… I couldn't take his speech, he's lying! We're not hurting our Pokemon; we don't place them under us! They're our equals!"

"How do you know if you're hurting them or not? Did they tell you this?" A young male voice questioned from the shadows.

"Who are you?" I look to where I heard the voice coming from, Cheren followed my glance.

"The name's N, and I'm sure you have no idea what you're saying. Unless you've gotten some sort of an answer from a Pokemon itself, you have no right to talk like that." He stated in a calm manner.

"I may not be able to talk to my Pokemon, but I'm positive that he's not hurt. If he was, he wouldn't be with me right now. Nothing is stopping him from leaving me."

"Hm, I'd like to hear what your Pokemon has to say, himself. Go! Purrloin!" With the boy's command a small cat-like Pokemon materialized from the pokeball.

"A battle, huh? Fine, if that's how you want it. Come on out Shuu!"

"Snivvvv. ~" Shuu growled as he came out of his pokeball.

"A Snivy? Interesting. Purrloin use Scratch!" His Purrloin lunged toward Shuu with its sharp claws extended, I could feel butterflies forming in my stomach from nerves. This had only been my first real battle. I can't exactly count what happened in my room as… A battle.

"Shuu, dodge and use Tackle!" Shuu did as he was told and charged at the Purrloin after swiftly dodging the oncoming attack, sending it flying backwards into N. Once it was clear that Purrloin wasn't getting up, I threw my fist in the air.

"Great job there Shuu, come on back. You deserve a good rest." I caressed his pokeball once he was safely inside. "Thank you Shuu, I appreciate it." I smiled.

"Good work Purrloin, rest well my friend." N withdrew his Pokemon and walked over to me with a serious expression. "Strange… I wasn't expecting your pokemon to feel that way."

"And "that way" is?"

"He said he enjoys battling with you, and that you're a good trainer." It was clear that N was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do. Seems as though what Ghetsis had said didn't make sense to him at that very moment.

"I don't know who you really are, or what this battle had to do with anything, but I promise you that I won't let that Ghetsis dude separate anymore people from their Pokemon. It's a sad thing to watch… Especially when you become attached to them and they become your friends. You said it yourself; Purrloin is a friend to you. What would you do if Ghetsis had you get rid of it?" N looked at me with much confusion, there was a sadness in his eyes that sent a chill down my spine. What is that? Why is he so sad? Who is he?

"I'll be taking my leave now. That Pokemon… I don't know why it feels the way it does, but I'm sure it's not the same for all Pokemon. I won't allow them to suffer!" His voice cracked as he said this, I couldn't understand why he was so emotional over it or why he couldn't see that they're not suffering.

"I may not be able to talk to Pokemon, but I'm sure that it is the same for the rest. My name is Valaina by the way, though I like Val as well." I yelled as he was walking away. He didn't wave or say goodbye, he just… Left. Cheren was just getting back from finding Bianca, he had ran off during my battle with N. Bianca, of course, had an ice-cream cone in her hand.

"What happened? Is it over?" Cheren blurted out.

"Yeah.. I beat him. He claims he can hear Pokemon talk, and apparently Shuu likes being with me. That wasn't enough to convince him though; he said he was positive that it isn't the same for other Pokemon." I explained in a daze. The more I thought about it, the less sense it all made. What in the world was going on? Only a day or so ago I had just begun my journey as a new trainer, and already there was trouble. There was no way I was letting that Ghetsis guy or N get away with this. People and Pokemon have lived in harmony their whole lives, aside from the minor disturbances of stupid groups such as Team Rocket and now the newly formed Team Plasma. What's with everyone and wanting to disturb the peace? Does no one pay attention to anything anymore? I thought while staring into space. Cheren was standing next to me furiously waving his hand in front of my face trying to grab my attention. I would have noticed had I not been so absorbed in my thoughts. Ghetsis… It seems as though he dressed like we were back in Medieval times again, but N… He was normal, except thought just like Ghetsis.. What in the world is going on?

"VALAINA!" Bianca wailed as she threw her shoe at me.

"What the hell?" I snapped, death glaring her.

"Don't yell at her, she did it because you weren't paying attention no matter what we did. I've been standing here for a good 10 minutes waving my hand in front of your face and shaking you." Cheren exclaimed with an angry expression, Bianca shook her head in agreement.

"Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts.."

"We noticed." Cheren crossed his arms, tapping his foot.

"It's just… None of this makes sense."

"It's not going to until we get more information, this is our first encounter with them, maybe if we keep on our travels we'll hear more about what's going on." He stated, pushing up his glasses to fit the bridge of his nose. I couldn't help but giggle, he was so geeky at times, nonetheless though I agreed with him. More information was needed.

"All right, on to Striation City then, first gym badge, here we come!" Bianca squealed with excitement as she fist pumped the air. Cheren shook his head while I joined Bianca in her little moment.