-2-Turning-

Fuzh had finally returned home. Climbing the massive flight of stairs leading up to the castle was never an easy task, yet he did so every day. Something was not right. Normally there would be Team Plasma members lining the outside of the castle, protecting it like ants would protect their den. Fuzh couldn't help but chuckle at his comparison, since most grunts were so brainwashed and empty minded that they did indeed follow like a pack of ants. His new trail of thought led him away from his previous concerns, so he headed up the stairs at a slower, calmer pace. His feeling of relaxation was short-lived however, for when he walked inside there was not a soul in sight. The castle foyer was usually jam packed with people. Grunts getting from one place to another doing a job, and the occasional sage who would only pass through when necessary. Today, for a reason unknown to him, it was empty. Fuzh kept calm as he glanced around, seeking some kind of clue that might tell him what was going on. The only clue he received was not visible. Instead, his ears rang with the sound of shouting, and shortly after the echoes of combat. He could not recognize the first voice, but when another human shouted back, his heart skipped a beat.

"Lord N." Fuzh said out loud. From the sound of combat being so light, he assumed they were very high up in the building. "Magnezone, our master needs us." Fuzh held up his poke ball towards the Magnezone and returned it to its ball. He broke out into a sprint, dashing up the stairs at a lightning fast pace. As he raced up the stairs and down the long hallways that lay between them, he began to question the design of the castle. Finally he reached the top floor, and caught sight of his Lord N's door. Along with the door however, he also discovered why the castle had been so empty on his way up. Almost every Team Plasma member who resided here in the castle had crowded around the heavy metal door, some pressed against it trying to hear what was inside. "You." Fuzh said directed at the grunts. They all turned and froze with fear. "Return to where you belong. Your business here is ill important." The grunts bowed quickly and bolted in different directions. Fuzh was not the largest of the sages, or even the strongest; but to the grunts, he was the most respected. Fuzh ran his hand along his belt, making sure he had the Dusclops, Emboar, and Bronzong with him still. After double checking, he placed a hand on the door to N's throne room, and pushed it open.

There he was. A Scrafty laying a few feet in front of him, battered and bruised. The boy stood, mouth agape, not saying anything. This was a mere child! Fuzh couldn't believe it.

The child protected his Scrafty with his life. Such devotion…a shame it had to be wasted on one of the trainers. Fuzh looked around and noticed only two other sages in the room with them.

"Where are the others?" Fuzh's attention was brought back to the boy. "Could this child have…beaten them?" He ran out towards his master. "Lord N." He addressed as he knelt down in front of him. "I have recovered the Dusclops you requested. The trainer was…complicated, but was no trouble."

N didn't even look at Fuzh. He merely stared at the child he had just defeated with full attention. His long green hair flowed with the gentle breeze coming from the hole in the wall, no doubt made by the entrance of Zekrom, who loomed behind his master, and his right hand held the poke ball he would use to capture Scrafty. After some consideration, he looked down at Fuzh and re-attached the ball to his belt. "Very good. Your work is once again excellent." He took the ball from Fuzh. "Always on time, you are." He made eye contact with him for the first time in a long time. "I have a favor to ask you."

"My lord…a favor? Of me?" Fuzh retorted, somewhat shocked.

"Indeed. This child has given me trouble. He possesses no real strength, though his Pokemon are very formidable. Take him to our holding chambers and strip him of his—." His gaze went back up, finding the boy hugging his Scrafty. "His friends." N pushed past the still kneeling Fuzh and walked away. The sound of his footsteps slowly dimmed away and Fuzh stood up. He turned and watched his master as he walked towards his Zekrom, standing menacingly in the background. "Come Zekrom", N said, "we have demands to make." The mighty dragon lifted him up and put N on his back, then turned towards the edge of the balcony. With one swift motion, he took off into flight, leaving a shockwave and slight trail behind him. Fuzh stared for a moment, then turned and looked at the other sages. He nodded, and proceeded towards the defeated child. He stood over him and stared. The child seemed to not notice he was there. Fuzh took the time to get a closer look at the boy who had so bravely challenged his master. When he walked onto the roof, the boy was cloaked in a black hoodie. That same garment was now wrapped around the arm of Scrafty. He marveled at how much care the trainer had for his Pokemon. Enough. He could not be lost in emotion. He cleared his throat, and the boy flinched, looking up at him.

"Calm down." The boy pulled his Scrafty with him as he scooted back. Fuzh outstretched a hand. "Relax child. No harm will come to you. Come with us, do as we say, and you can leave here today with no worries."

The trainer did not speak, but his eyes did so for him. He glared into Fuzh's eyes with a fire that told his story. This boy had been through hell and back to get where he was today, and he wouldn't begin trusting Team Plasma just because one of their members was calmer than the usual grunt. Fuzh couldn't blame him. Still, he held his hand out.

"Back off. I may have lost, but I don't care. You Team Plasma jerks can go jump after your 'master' if you follow him so blindly. I'm not going anywhere with the likes of you."

Fuzh seemed a bit shocked. "Harsh words. Lord N made the right choice in battling you." Fuzh rose to his feet and took his hand back. "Fine then. Have it your way." He stared down at the boy for quite some time, as if expecting a response. When he received none, he turned away and looked towards the sages, his white hair flowing in front of his face and blocking his eyes. The sages began to walk towards him and he matched their step, approaching them without making eye contact. As they passed by each other, he noticed that one of the sages carried a chain. No doubt to bind the boy. In a barely audible whisper, he spoke. "Bring him to the holding chambers. Lord N has demanded it." He seemed finished, but did not budge further. He opened his mouth and uttered some final words. "…don't hurt him."

He reached the stairs, turned, and watched as the other sages handled the boy and his Scrafty. They did not at all attempt to leave him safe, wrestling him further to the ground and tying his arms in the chains they were carrying. When they had him in order, they each took an arm and dragged him towards the door. Fuzh looked down and shook his head.

He proceeded ahead of them and descended slowly, trying to take his time. As he walked along, passing through the hallways and descending down the stairs, he couldn't help but glance into each room he passed. They all looked the same. The castle had changed so much since he first got here when N noticed his potential. He didn't feel at home anymore. No matter. He had a job to do, emotions were just getting in the way. He got to the room they were headed to first, and heard the rambling of shackles draw near. As he looked back down the hallway, he saw the sages dragging the boy along slowly. He had been bound in chains by his arms. Fuzh could only shiver. Treating a mere boy like this. It wasn't like them. This wasn't how they treated their past prisoners.

Fuzh opened the heavy metal door to the large open room and led the others inside. They handled the boy roughly and almost threw him inside. Fuzh passed them a glare. The trainer winced and uttered.

"…I'm not giving up my Pokemon…"

Fuzh looked the boy up and down. The chains the sages had tied him in had dug deep into his skin. Blood ran down his arms, and Fuzh tried his best to show no emotion. In reality, he had felt himself coming closer to the boy, but he didn't know why. He was just another prisoner. This was just another job. And these were just more Pokemon waiting to be liberated. He remembered back to the battle in the throne room. Though he had not physically seen the battle, the sounds he heard suggested that the boy's Pokemon fought with vigor, courage, and a resolve unknown to him. Fuzh passed a glance down to his belt, scanning them one by one. His Pokemon had never let him down before. Showing them compassion surely only made them weaker. That is why the boy lost. He had the ability, but he was soft.

As Fuzh battled with his inner self, the middle sage caught glimpse of his worried expression.

"You. Snap out of it, and let's make this quick."

Fuzh snapped back to reality, jerking his head up to catch the gaze of the elder sage. He turned towards the door and placed one hand on it. He looked out into the hallway to find only empty space, nothing different than usual. Nothing ever changed. This was just another job… He let go of his concerns, and disappeared into the darkness of the room.