My Snivy, Panpour and I made it down the route (with many trips back to the pokemon cener, of course) in a few hours. Not only had we managed to beat all the trainers along the way, but we also had made new friends! We had managed to add a Pidove, Lilipup and a Blitzle to our group.

We rested our first night in Nacrene, and headed back out to the route in the morning in order to train and maybe meet some new friends.

I sat with my back against the tree and my five pokemon surrounding me, just short of the entrance to Nacrene city. I was eating a sandwhich while all my pokemon had their own bowl of food. Blitzle came over and laid down, nuzzling against my leg.

"Hi, beautiful," I cooed, patting her back.

She tossed her head from side to side before laying it across my lap. The rest of my pokemon came and joined us once they finished their bowls of food.

"They wanted to liberate pokemon, right?" I muttered to myself, looking around at all my friends, "They would really ruin something like this?"

I sighed heavily before smiling down at all five of them and putting them back in their balls. We had to continue on our way. We'd rest for the night once we reached Nacrene.

I clipped all five safely on my belt and stood up again, walking the small distance that stood between me and Nacrene. I was starting to think that I'd be able to take on the gym leader there.

I healed my pokemon quickly before heading to the Museum, which housed the gym. I fought my way to the back and took on the gym leader, easily taking her down.

Just after she handed my badge over to me, shouting could be heard in the distance.

"GET THEM!"

Immediately we rushed out of the room in the back and to the front of the museum, looking for the cause of all the problems. Standing before us was a group of people wearing uniforms that looked vaguely familiar.

"Team Plasma will be taking this dragon skull and using it!" One of them announced, holding a skull above his head.

The gym leader stepped forwards, "Now I don't think you will be doing any such thing. Return that skull and leave peacefully."

"We'll be leaving peacefully. We'll just be taking this skull with us." Another member retorted.

In a matter of seconds, the entire gang of people was gone. I stared in awe at where they had just been before I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"White, I need your help. Please. We need to get that skull back from them."

I nodded, "Of course. I'll do whatever I can."

Suddenly the front doors of the Museum burst open, "I saw them run off into the forest!"

"Good. Thank you. White, let's go."

I followed the gym leader as she ran across the town and towards the forest. She pointed me in the direction I was to go and she headed in the other direction. I growled under my breath as I headed into the shadows of the forest.

"Why do they have to cause such trouble?" I mumbled.

"Because you trainers are filthy rotten people who treat their pokemon like crap!" I heard a voice ahead of me.

I jogged a little distance and sure enough, hidden in some bushes was one of the team plasma members, "Get out here and tell me what you know."

"Fight me." He smiled at me cockily.

I stepped up to his face, "Bring it on."

He sent out a Trubbish that my Blitzle had no trouble taking down. The moment his pokemon fainted, I stepped up to him, "Tell me what you know!" I demanded.

He chuckled, returning his pokemon to its pokeball, "I don't know anything other than the fact that I'm not the one with the skull. Sorry."

I glared at him for a moment before returning Blitzle to her ball and continuing on into the forest. It continued this way. Seven. I fought seven stupid members of this team before I found the one I was looking for.

"You came this far along? I'm impressed."

"I don't care if you're impressed or not," I muttered, "Give me back the skull."

"You're not very patient, are you?"

I stared at the grunt that stood before me, taking a few deep breaths, "Not when it comes to you guys. You may think you're chasing some great cause, but that doesn't give you the right to steal things from other people."

"And what gives you the right to enslave pokemon?" He retorted, stepping closer to me.

I let out a deep breath before hissing out my words, "My pokemon are not enslaved. I wouldn't keep them with me if they didn't seem okay with it. I love my pokemon!"

He rolled his eyes, "Passionate and stubborn. You are exactly as Lord N described you."

I paused for a second, feeling like something sucked the air right out of my lungs, "He… described me?"

"Yes. He's rather interested in you. Although I can't fathom why." He spat back, "Anyways. It turns out we don't need this skull. So here, take it back. But we're not through yet."

He tossed the skull lazily at me, and I had to stumble forwards a little to catch it. As I had my attention focused on catching the skull and ensuring it was still in one piece, he disappeared from my sight.

I sighed and headed back out of the woods. The gym leader stood at the head of the path and rushed to see me the moment I came into view. I explained how he said they didn't need the skull and that he willingly gave it back to me. I even told her how he said that they weren't done. The only part I left out was the fact that N seemed to have taken an interest in me.

"Thank you so much, White. I really, really appreciate it!" She hugged me close before looking at me again, "I couldn't have done this without you!"

I smiled, "I was more than happy to help. Really. I don't know what they're doing, but they're going about it all wrong."

She smiled, "People chase their dreams in their own way."

"That doesn't mean their way is right." I replied, frowning.

She chuckled, "No, no it doesn't."

She patted my shoulder before turning around and heading back into the city. I stared after her for a minute, quietly thinking to myself. Although a lot had happened, it was really only midday. And there was nothing left in Nacrene for me. There was no reason not to continue on my way towards the next city. My pokemon were all in good shape and I wasn't tired.

I turned to face away from the town and back towards the forest. I could see a bridge in the distance that I knew led to the next city. But I didn't really want to take shortcuts, especially not as I felt the rain begin to pound down on my shoulders. I pulled my hat a little lower over my eyes and dashed for the cover of the forest.

"Looks like we'll be exploring here," I spoke to myself, trying to ignore the chill of fear that was creeping up my spine. Something felt different this time through.