Hey! It's Cure Bolt, speaking on the behalf of the author! Right now, Pretty Cure is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and the newest season, Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure, has just begun airing! Everyone, make sure to cheer Cure Sky and her team on! As for me, I'll continue to work on fulfilling my dream! Be sure to stick around until the end!
Chapter 19: Parallels of Truths and Ideals.
Touya opens his eyes to darkness. Clear tendrils suspend his body in a spread-eagle position, and a heavy pressure is weighing down on his head. He tugs at the force binding him, but his arms and legs are held fast.
Terror seizes him. The sensation of being captured and bound against his will is all too familiar, but he cannot, for the life of him, recall why. His body spasms out of his control, desperately fighting against his bindings.
"Struggle all you like. You will not escape their grasp."
Touya gasps at the entrance of the new voice. It sounds like him, but the rigidness of its tone is something he knows he can never replicate. His body stops squirming as he takes in the sight of himself levitating before him. The clone is surrounded by a thick coat of Ultra Wormhole energy, but otherwise, everything about him is the same. While he may be covered in a warm, orange aura, his voice is the complete opposite: sharp–almost needle-like–and oozing with malice.
"W-What…? Who are you?! Why do you look like me?!"
"I am the truth you seek," the doppelganger responds, "The person you wish to be."
Touya's skin prickles when the icy tone washes over him. There is no trace of love or sympathy in his voice. Can he even consider this clone a human being?
"You're…my past self?"
The doppelganger observes the disbelief twisting Touya's face, "Don't look so surprised. What were you expecting?"
Touya hangs his head down, "Definitely not this…"
"Is he…really who I was in the past? And my Pokémon wants me to be this person…? That can't be… I-I don't want to believe that."
The trainer looks up and carefully discerns the doppelganger. He catches how the clone, after seconds of their staring contest, averts his gaze, tipping his cap the same way he would. His left hand hasn't left his pants pocket yet, but he can detect it moving restlessly. As though following Touya's train of thought, the clone draws his hand out to reveal a shrunken Poké Ball.
The double's expression softens at the sight of the object and whispers, "I'm sorry for taking so long. I haven't forgotten my mission, I swear."
Even with the thin smile on his face, the doppelganger's grip on the Poké Ball is tight–so tight that his fingers are trembling. Touya is hit with a sudden wave of restlessness, but it doesn't come from once again recognizing that he's trapped in place. The thought of needing to do something briefly consumes him, and only the confusion of not knowing what it is he needs to do is able to keep him afloat in the torrent.
"Mission…?"
Touya's double redirects his gaze to him upon hearing the muddled question at the speed of a Torkoal's pace. The trainer flinches at how his eyes change from a brown color to an unnatural orange glow.
The doppelganger steps forward, the aura around him flaring about, encroaching onto the bound trainer, "I envy you. Because you didn't have our memories, you were able to live as an ordinary trainer. You don't realize just how lucky you are, to be able to battle to your heart's content without knowing how big of a privilege that is."
Touya's double is now within arm's length of him. The Ultra Wormhole energy coalescing over his form slowly bleeds to a violet color. He sneers at the bound trainer, "It must have been nice to battle other trainers without a care in the world with my Pokemon. And yet, you chose to throw that away for the past."
"Because our Pokémon were suffering! They…they wanted you," Touya trails off. A stabbing sensation pierces his heart as he reluctantly admits, "I envy you, too. No matter how exciting my battles were…no matter how close I tried to be with my Pokémon, they were always looking at me and expecting someone else. Some nights, I would lay in bed and wonder if I really am their trainer. I thought about releasing them many times, but every time I did, I felt so disgusted with myself. I even threw up once over it. However, even after regaining part of my memories, I don't understand why I feel this way. You have no idea how scary it is to not know who you really are!"
He can no longer deny the identity of the doppelganger. After all, the same bitter feeling dwells in him, too. Touya stares at his double with a pitiful gaze and finds the same expression reflected back at him.
"You have what I don't."
"You have what I don't."
Touya straightens himself and notices how he can move his arms, even though the tendrils are still wrapped around him. He rests them by his side. "I want to help you fulfill your mission! If you're really me, then show me the rest of my past!"
Something in the clone's expression shifts the moment he hears Touya convey his determination. His gaze tilts down, reminding Touya of how he looks when deep in thought. When the clone speaks again, he has to take a deep breath first. "Alright. From here on out, we are one. You will inherit my resolve and my mission."
The clone regards him with a haunting smile. The aura coalescing around his form flares up, and the darkness is chased away by a sharp glow. Grunting at the sudden piercingly bright light, Touya shuts his eyes and braces himself. A sweltering hot airstream coils around him.
Through the chaos, through the rapid beating of his heart, the doppelganger's voice booms in Touya's head, "It's time to remember…the moment of our deepest regret!"
Touya's mind whirled at the countless possible battle strategies he could make. He should have expected that Reshiram and Zekrom would be equal in strength. The only thing separating them apart was the convictions fueling their trainers. He glared at his opponent, at the man who had sent him on this path.
N.
Team Plasma's king's expression hadn't changed since the battle began. His focus would be awe-inspiring if it wasn't for such a misguided cause.
Zekrom landed behind Touya after bashing Reshiram with another Fusion Bolt. The air around the trainer sizzled, and together with his jacket flapping in the wind and his hat casting a shadow over his narrowed eyes, he had the appearance of a hero.
They were going nowhere. Both legendary Pokémon exchanged blow after blow with each other, but it was becoming increasingly clear that either he or N had to change their strategy. Touya decided that he needed to strike before N came to the same conclusion.
"Zekrom, Dragon-!"
The sound of glass breaking halted Touya's command. His eyes darted around for the source of the distraction, but then he saw N look up, his dead-eyed gaze finally slipping away. Following his gaze, Touya realized that a portal had opened above them, cracking a fabric of space. A gelatinous head and four tentacles burst from the tear, flailing wildly in an attempt to pull itself into the realm. With a wet-sounding plop, the extraterrestrial creature hovered over the battlefield and observed both heroes almost timidly. Its body shifted slightly upon spotting Team Plasma's king. With a kid's giddiness, the tentacle monster bounced down toward N, spreading its tentacles in preparation to snatch him up.
N incredulously gaped at the invader, his gray eyes reflecting the first traces of terror. "W-What is this? I-I don't understand what it's saying!"
Reshiram howled at the intruder and readied a fireball. The jellyfish-like alien giggled once again and coated itself in a pink aura. When Reshiram's attack landed, instead of exploding into a puff of smoke, it was reflected back at the legendary Pokémon, clouding the battlefield with a black haze.
N was engulfed by the smoke, but Touya could see the extraterrestrial creature diving down as it wickedly laughed. It rushed towards N like the man was its prey, and the man did nothing to stop its advances.
Touya didn't have time to thoroughly consider his choices. He had to save N from this beast.
The trainer broke into a sprint. He dashed into the smoke, catching the faint shadow of N's figure. Touya slammed both hands against N's side and shoved him as hard as he could. The green-haired man stumbled back into Reshiram just as the unknown creature captured Touya.
His body violently shivered when the monster's head drooped over him. The tentacles had a sleekness to them that elicited goosebumps. Not only was this sensation coating his entire body, but he could feel something seeping into his skin. Random body parts began to spasm out of his control, and his thoughts closed in on him like a barrier shrinking down to encase his brain.
N quickly recovered and begged both Reshiram and Zekrom to save Touya. Reshiram ignited a mouthful of blue flames, while Zekrom spread his wings and lifted a claw up.
"Are you sure you want to do that?"
The king of Team Plasma snapped his gaze to Ghetsis. The older man's stance was far too relaxed, far too calm considering the situation. A literal alien was ruining the battle between truth and ideals. Ghetsis's plan should have been foiled by this unaccounted factor, and yet–!
"If Reshiram and Zekrom fight against this beast, they will easily defeat it. However, this trainer will get caught in the crossfire. His life might even be forfeited, given the might of the legendary Pokémon. Is that something you want to risk, my king? I implore you to reconsider."
Devastation wracked N's face. Now that he was aware of the danger he would put Touya in had he followed through with his commands, N tightened his jaw and silenced his pleas. Touya adamantly struggled against his bindings; he had to escape from this creature's grasp on his own.
"Zekrom, don't mind me!" the hero of ideals decisively shouted, "Use Zen Headbutt!"
N jolted up, not believing his ears, "No! Zekrom, don't! Don't hurt my friend!"
The king's cry stunned the room. Even Touya was baffled by N's admission. Who…was he referring to? Him…or the creature carrying him away?
As though N was its trainer instead of Touya, Zekrom stood still. Its glare followed the jellyfish creature and its captive as they inched closer to the portal. Cheren and Alder sprinted into the room, most likely due to N's voice, but by the time they realized what was happening, the alien's head was already starting to push itself into the wormhole.
N, Cheren, and Alder helplessly watched on while Zekrom and Reshiram remained where they were, immovable like their stone forms. Touya's gaze fell onto Ghetsis, who was regarding the whole scene with nothing more than a victorious smile.
It was then that Touya realized the truth. A dam within his heart broke, and all he could hear was the sound of his blood churning up a whirlpool. The slippery texture of the tendrils carrying him now felt like freshly heated bathwater, coaxing him to lean further in its embrace, to revel in the tune of shuffling waves.
Touya let himself drown in its gaping vortex, into the unrelenting current underneath.
"HOW…DARE YOU!"
"T-Touya…?" a startled N uttered.
Touya's uncharacteristic outrage caught everyone's attention, but the trainer himself could no longer tell. His body wildly fought against its restraints, and his hands clenched into claws.
"I'LL END YOU! I SWEAR I'LL TEAR YOU APART, GHETSIS!"
The trainer's head disappeared into the wormhole. Colors he had never seen before, that he had never imagined existed, filled his world once again. They were all too bright as they washed the red away. He almost snapped out of his rage just from the spectacle alone, but his body still writhed, and the bloodthirsty desire to eliminate the source of N's pain still overrode his mind.
"TOUYA!"
On N's desolate scream, Touya vowed that he'll return…as Ghetsis's worst nightmare.
Touya is flung back into the darkness, his head lifelessly slumped forward. Ultra Wormhole energy began to emit from the trainer's form. His memories begin to play in reverse. Scenes of him and his friends meeting the people living in Unova crystalize into small fragments that contain each of their convictions.
He sees Cheren as he doubted his own reason for becoming stronger. He sees Bianca as she wonders whether she should continue being a trainer. He listens to the advice given to him by the gym leaders, each one as priceless and valuable as a mythical Pokémon. He watches Alder's face crumple pitifully as he begs N to stop his liberation campaign.
And…he remembers the sound of N's voice as he came face-to-face with true despair.
A ring of red gems spawns around the bound trainer. Then, the sound of each of the crystals breaking one by one fills the darkness. With each jewel shattered, the aura of Ultra Wormhole energy flared brighter until the blue of his jacket becomes a dirt brown color. The tentacles holding him captive are burned away at the exorbitant display of energy.
"I…remember now," Touya tests his voice. It's now a mixture of his own…and his double's voice.
"That's right. And now that I remember…"
When the hero lifts his head, the warmth in his eyes is gone. In its place…is an entrenched anger strong enough to be mistaken as determination.
"How can I not be absolutely furious?!"
Mei steadies herself on her Swanna's back as they barrel their way through another cloud. The distress call she had received from Colress is troubling, but then again, every call she gets from the scientist is nothing but bad news.
"...Are you sure it's fine to leave N alone like that?" Touko questions, her hand resting on her Xtransceiver.
"It'll be fine! We did leave him that note, so he won't be running around the city frantically searching for us. We'll only be gone for a day. Besides, you were the one who wanted to come along. I even gave you time to go wake N up, but when I went to check on you two, you were hunched over him."
Her partner looks away, a pout puffing her cheeks, "He wouldn't get up. Believe me, I tried nudging his shoulder–!"
"It was more of a poke than a nudge," Reshiram corrects, seeing the need to provide Mei with vital commentary on its heroine's explanation.
"When that didn't work, I threw open the curtains to get some light in the room."
"It was still dark outside, so it was not very effective."
"I even tried calling his name."
"With how softly she whispered, even the most alert Audino would miss it."
"Reshiram!"
"Will you not tell her the true reason you hesitated to involve N?"
Touko falls silent, and Mei rotates her body around to take a better look at her partner. She has dropped the pout, but in exchange, there's a noticeable shadow marring her crystal blue eyes.
"You can tell me, Touko. It's only the two of us," Mei feels her bag shake, "Well, us and our Pokémon."
Slowly clutching her heart, Touko contemplates her choices before slowly admitting, "He looked so peaceful. I never noticed, even though I've been traveling with him for a while now. That's why I couldn't bring myself to disturb him. I didn't want to take that away from him."
There's something she's implying underneath her wholesome gesture. Her body language suggests that she's restraining herself. Afraid of herself. Even though Touko had declared that she would protect her own happiness last night, it doesn't mean she has overcome her regrets right then and there. She is only realizing what the first step should really be.
Over the course of her journey, Mei has seen the kind of effort needed for someone to atone for their past mistakes. The people at the adoption center, and the problems they face daily, are a constant reminder of how forgiving oneself takes time.
So, she merely flashes Touko a slight grin and responds, "If that's how you feel, then we'll let him get his beauty rest. N can take care of himself."
"...Yeah, he can. I'm realizing that now."
Despite echoing Mei's reassurance, Touko still has a troubled expression. She brings out Reshiram's luxury ball, mumbling to herself, "I can't believe Touya was turned into a Kugeki…"
"He's…your Battle Subway partner, right? What's he doing in Nacrene City?"
Touko takes a moment to form her response. "It's complicated."
The vague answer elicits a skeptical glance from Mei. When Touko notices how she has only succeeded in casting further suspicion on herself, she adds, "I made a promise to him, so that's all I can say. It would be better if he told you himself."
Seeing as how Touko is being tight-lipped, Mei instead decides to lift her idol's spirits, "Let's turn him back quickly, then! No Kugeki stands a chance against us!"
While Touko's expression remains grim, there's a glint of determination in her eyes. She cradles the luxury ball close to her chest. "Touya, we're going to save you. Hang in there…"
Mei's gaze drifts to the glossy capsule. Even after exchanging all that they knew last night, the mystery surrounding Cure Flare's power is still left unsolved. She's never heard of a Poké Ball being both defective and effective. In most cases, if a Poké Ball fails to catch a Pokémon, it is immediately rendered useless. The same thing happens if someone tries to capture another person's Pokémon. Yet, Reshiram has vouched that the luxury ball did work as intended. Only after spending time within the capsule did the dragon of truth notice the malfunction.
There's also the question of how Touko can revert the Kugekis with only Reshiram's power. The two legendary dragons are counterparts, equal in terms of strength. If Zekrom alone is not enough to fight against the Kugekis, Reshiram should be the same. Colress had to utilize several key items, like a Z-Crystal and the DNA Splicers, to facilitate her transformation into a Precure. Cure Bolt is the culmination of Colress's scientific research on Ultra Wormhole energy and Kyurem's power.
But Cure Flare's existence may as well be considered a miracle. Proof of true magic.
"It's no wonder Unova looks up to her so much. She's the stuff of legends. How…am I supposed to surpass someone like that?"
Mei shakes her head, scattering her doubts like smoke to the wind. "Stop it, me! That kind of thinking will get me nowhere! I have to make my dream come true, no matter what!"
Swanna squawks twice, announcing their close proximity to Nacrene City. After Mei reveals Zekrom's ultra ball from her own bag, the two magical girls share a nod and then recite the chant together.
"Curing Fusion!"
It takes Colress some time to explain the situation to Professor Juniper. While Lenora works with the volunteers to close off the area, he paces around the inactive Kugeki, making observations of its appearance. Strands of jet-black sludge encased in a layer of transparent goo act as stakes to ground it in place. Wrapped in this gloop, the Kugeki itself takes the shape of a cocoon the size of the surrounding trees. It remains eerily still, save for the occasional pulse of life.
"Once again, something sinister is brewing in Unova. Only this time, you've been hiding it from everyone," Professor Juniper states once Colress finishes his story.
His expression is unreadable under the blinding glint of his glasses. "My carelessness played a part in all this, and I have already involved far too many people to help rectify my mistakes. If the whole region learns the truth, the ensuing panic and publicity would only hinder us. I also had hoped to resolve this much sooner. However…they are living up to their reputation as shadows."
Colress casts his gaze on the lone member of the Shadow Triad. The ninja is evidently frustrated with the Kugeki, as it has stayed motionless since its creation and doesn't seem willing to move anytime soon. Shadow returns Colress's hard stare with a glare of his own.
"Who is this trainer? Why did he say those things? He speaks of our lord, and yet we have no recollection of him."
Colress pretends to be uninterested by nonchalantly shrugging, but deep down, his interest has been piqued ever since encountering the boy the day before. He has already established that Touya is a Faller, and the Shadow Triad should know what they are from the files they had stolen from him. He doesn't plan to give them any more than that.
Still, the ninja's questions are also leaving him stumped. Touya clearly believes something in Nacrene City will help him recover his memories, and indeed, he has witnessed the bizarre light show using the trainer as their stage multiple times today. From the readings from his arm device, he surmises that the Ultra Wormhole energy in Touya's body is reacting to that red light. Is it possible that the red light is the reason for his memories returning…?
The bewildering things he had been saying further add to Colress's maddening confusion. Even though the Shadow Triad claims to have never met the boy before, Touya distinctly remembers them and their master. Which lord was he referring to, Ghetsis…or N?
"He mentioned hailing from Nuvema Town, but in all my years of working there, I have never heard of a boy with that name before," Professor Juniper brings up, still trying to make sense of the bizarre situation she has found herself in. Her comment is yet another barrier keeping Colress away from grasping the full picture.
"Colress!"
A female voice breaks his concentration. He glances up and grins when Cure Bolt touches down in front of the Kugeki. Next to her, also landing with dainty grace, is someone he isn't expecting to see.
"Bolt, you're right on time," he greets before turning to the other magical girl, "And you've brought the infamous Cure Flare with you. Is it safe to assume she has cleared your little game?"
"You guessed correctly. From now on, we're a team. I can't wait for her to meet Gladion."
Shadow's mood sours at the sight of the magical girls but doesn't say anything more. Professor Juniper stares incredulously at the Precures, "Oh, my. Did I see them fly just now? My eyes aren't deceiving me, right?"
Colress drops his arm and folds it behind his back. A smug grin appears on his face. "This is only the tip of the iceberg, Professor Juniper. They are the manifestation–nay, the evolution–of the bonds between trainers and Pokémon!"
The professor is expectedly flabbergasted, her mouth still wide open. As much as Bolt wants to hype themselves up more, she'd better stop Colress before he divulges any more of his research. After all, it is supposed to be top-secret, even though more and more people are becoming aware of the Precures' existence.
"Yes, and their names are-!"
"You can leave Touya to us! We'll change him back to normal!" Bolt interrupts, which prompts a tiny frown from the scientist. She then turns around to observe the Kugeki further. "This isn't like the ones we fought before, though. Should we break its shell before it hatches?"
"It's worth a try." Flare already has a fireball ready, but before she can throw it, a gentle cry, followed by a flash of red, resounds from the sky. When the light clears, Uxie stands before the magical girls, the gem on its forehead blinking at a steadily slow pace. While the being of knowledge opens a telepathic connection with the group, it focuses its attention on Flare.
"Hold your fire, heroine of truth. You mustn't intervene in his trial yet."
Flare extinguishes the flame in her hand. "Trial…?"
"Yes. This is a trial to determine whether he can withstand the truth. I have broken the seal on his memories, but whether or not he remains trapped in his past is up to him."
Something about Uxie's words doesn't sit right with Bolt. What is in Touya's past that would trap him in it? She glances at Flare and finds that her troubled expression has only worsened. Even now, with the Knowledge Pokémon in their midst, Flare is valiantly keeping her promise, but she is evidently struggling to do so.
"Are you saying that he'll revert back to normal if he passes the trial?" questions Flare.
Even though Uxie isn't moving, they can imagine it shaking its head. "It won't be that simple. He is still fused with an Ultra Beast. What the trial determines…is the form of the Kugeki you will be facing. Should he pass, both human and Ultra Beast will only be stuck together, and it will be easy to sever the fusion. If he fails, then a monster will break free from that cocoon."
"I don't really know much about Touya, but he'll pass the trial! Right, Flare?" Bolt expects her partner-in-crime to agree with her, maybe even give a short speech to rouse their spirits, but the orange-haired Precure instead pulls out her transformation device. An internal battle rages within her, indicated by the harsh grip on the ball and her teeth chewing her lower lip.
Eventually, Flare faces Uxie. "I wanted you to help Touya remember who he was. If you are giving him this trial, then that means there's a reason why his memories have been sealed away. You know what's in his past. The truth is…he won't be able to accept them. Isn't that right?"
Uxie senses the uncertainty behind her words and her posture, as though she has reached a certain, unshakeable truth but is still hoping to be wrong. Noting the pensive look on Colress's face, Bolt leans closer to him and whispers, "Mind giving me some information about Touya? Flare won't tell me anything because she made a promise to him, but I want to help her save her friend. What kind of person is he?"
"I'm still trying to figure that out myself," he replies, lowering his voice to the same volume as hers, "What I do know is that he's a Faller."
"He is?"
"Indeed, and a very peculiar Faller at that. He possesses an exceedingly high quantity of Ultra Wormhole energy, enough for him to be able to resist being transformed into a Kugeki. With that level of contamination, he must have wandered Ultra Space for a really long time."
Mei recalls what the scientist had said about the existence of Fallers. All Fallers must have come in contact with Ultra Space, but where they originate from can vary. Some can be sucked into an Ultra Wormhole and eventually make it back to their home world. Others–and Colress suspects that this is the majority of Fallers–can come from entirely different worlds.
"But…how did Touya end up in Ultra Space in the first place? And where did he come from?" Bolt thinks to herself.
"Perhaps that is the part Flare is referring to. About him not being able to accept his memories."
The cocoon behind Uxie suddenly quivers. A burst of Ultra Wormhole energy torches the sludgy tendrils to life, and they tear themselves out of the wilting forest floor. Like an egg being cracked open, the Kugeki's shell splits apart, melting into clumpy ash. More tentacles sprout from its back as its transparent, bulbous head bounces in the air, and they position themselves like claws ready to pluck their prey up.
Dangling inside its dome is Touya, his eyes glowing a sickly yellow color. His hair contains streaks of the same color, while his hat and jacket are missing. Two, pitch-dark appendages resembling a pair of legs swing down from his waist, and a network of neon blue and yellow veins spans across his body, from his toes all the way to his neck.
The aura blaring from the Kugeki takes on a sinister color. Professor Juniper, struck by the radiative energy, drops to the floor. Uxie, too, falls under its influence, and Bolt dashes over to catch the pixie-like Pokémon before it splatters into a slushy puddle.
"Uxie! Hang in there, okay?"
Colress releases his Magnezone and steadies the professor on its head. Bolt transfers the psychic-type Pokémon over to his care, but it fights through the malignant aura enough to send them a final plea, "Heroines...no, Precures. Please…soothe his heart...with this world's truths and ideals…"
Uxie's words perplex Bolt again, and her mind jumps from one thought to another, trying to make sense of what little she knows. This world's truth and ideals…it has to be referring to Reshiram and Zekrom. She already plans to defeat this Kugeki with Flare, so why would Uxie reiterate that to them?
"Bolt," Flare calls, her voice now a stark contrast from before, "I want you to listen to the Kugeki–to Touya's inner voice. You'll realize then…the kind of burden he's carrying."
"Flare…" Bolt slowly nods, "Okay. Let's save your friend!"
Colress books it to Nacrene City but not before taking one more glance at Shadow. The ninja intently glares at Flare, shifting between hateful scorn and helplessness. None of his usual coolness is present; it's as though the sight of Reshiram's heroine has somehow torn down his aloof demeanor. With gritted teeth, he commands the Kugeki to attack, but the jellyfish-like monster stays in place. Touya himself doesn't seem to register the ninja's voice.
Bolt nervously frowns, "It's not listening to him."
Shadow tries again, but this time, the Kugeki twists its body and snaps its back tentacles at him. The ninja vanishes from sight and reappears on top of a tree. Touya's face scrunches with vehement irritation as the Kugeki propels all of its arms toward him. Once again, Shadow disappears, and the tree he was perched on is smacked down and snapped in half.
As if recognizing that its target can jump in and out of view, the Kugeki stills, relaxing its tentacles. Touya's eyes are clamped shut, and the intensity of its aura lessens. Shadow deems it a good time to show himself, materializing in front of the Precures. The moment he does, though, a tentacle snatches him up and begins squeezing the life out of him.
"I won't lose sight of my mission ever again!" The Kugeki bellows, "I will get rid of anyone who stands in my way!"
Both magical girls harshly suck in a breath of air. Even though the Shadow Triad is her enemy, Bolt doesn't want to see anyone in their position. A crackle of electricity sparks from her feet as she zips forward. In two blinks, she slams her entire body against the tentacle holding Shadow, sending a jolt of lightning strong enough to weaken its grip. The Kugeki's arm spasms, and short sparks cage it from moving. The ninja manages to land on his feet, but he has to pull down his mask in order to steady his breathing.
When Bolt returns to Flare's side, Shadow can't help but ask, "W-Why did you…?"
"I'm not letting any of your Kugekis hurt anyone. That includes you."
"You're…a fool for helping the enemy."
Bolt opens her mouth to retort back, but Flare grabs her shoulder and shakes her head, reminding her, "We don't have time to waste on him."
Something akin to mania overtakes Shadow upon hearing Flare's words. Fury twists his expression into a beastly snarl as a flame is ignited within him. The girl who had ruined their lives is right in front of him…but he is powerless without the Kugeki. Realizing how disadvantageous of a position he's in, Shadow withdraws for good.
With a contemplative stare, Flare observes the spot the ninja was just occupying. It's not a surprise that the Shadow Triad despises her for derailing Ghetsis's plans. So then, why does she get the feeling that there's more underneath his expression? Almost as if he's tormented by something other than their lord's defeat…
She stashes the image of Shadow's nasty glare to the back of her mind when a massive shadow creeps over her and her partner. The Kugeki hovers above them, blotting out the sunlight. From inside its plump dome, Touya is directing his glare at Bolt.
"Why aren't you listening to me? Why aren't you doing anything, Zekrom?!"
"W-What? Zekrom, do you know what he's referring to…?"
"I am afraid not. This is our first meeting. Incoming!"
Bolt gasps when the Kugeki swipes at her with one of its larger tentacles. Bracing herself, she catches the attack with her hands. Electricity dances from her palms as she pushes back against the tendril. Touya's face contorts with frustration again, and the Kugeki exerts more force, intending to crush her into the ground. Flare draws a circle with her pointer finger and then unleashes a fan of orange fire. Her flames scorch the Kugeki's head, and it flinches back from the intense heat.
The white Precure uses this window to dash in and assault the monster with fiery kicks. Bolt zips above them, and when Flare lands a particularly forceful boot to the face, she follows up with a charged punch. Chunks of dirt and grass fly in every direction as the Kugeki collides with the earth.
Despite being spiked hard enough that a crater forms around itself, the fused monstrosity gets up with ease. Its aura intensifies, and both magical girls stagger back, almost blown away by the strength of Touya's will.
"I needed your power to show him everyone's dreams! You chose me to be your hero! So, why did you listen to N instead of me?!"
"What…did he just say? He's…Zekrom's hero?"
"Preposterous! Lord N is the hero I have chosen."
"But Kugekis reveal what is inside a person's heart. If that's true, then…he must have come from another world. Another Unova, where he was your hero!"
Zekrom is speechless by her deduction. She can sense how it's not taking the revelation well. The legendary Pokémon is already struggling with the reality of assisting a hero not chosen by it, so to hear that another version of itself has disobeyed its own hero…
"He believes that Zekrom has betrayed him for N."
"There…must be a reason. I would not turn on my hero unless they have strayed too far from their ideals."
The sound of a turbine revving up rattles Bolt's ears as a storm of white feathers and orange fire begins gathering above Flare's raised pointer finger. The plumes catch fire, basked in white-hot flames, and coalesce into two rings surrounding a miniature sun.
Aiming for the Kugeki, Cure Flare throws her hand forward. "Precure Fusion Flare!"
Like a meteorite, her attack crashes into the Kugeki and bathes the battlefield in copper light. Several tentacles shield the main body from the scorching flames.
Touya's voice grunts with effort, "This…is nothing! I have to win for everyone's sake!"
While the Kugeki is occupied with the miniature sun, Flare shouts to her partner, "Go, Bolt!"
"Leave it to me!" With a hasty nod, Cure Bolt wills a turbine of her own from her pack. It whirls to life, charging up a globe of blue energy around the Precure. Black feathers condense both Bolt's blue electricity and some of Flare's orange flames into a set of rings.
"Bolt, please convey to him my earnest feelings. If another me has deemed him a hero, then I wish to know of his ideals. We must come to an understanding if we are to heal his heart."
Bolt sports a confident grin. "You got it!"
Now resembling a shooting star, the magical girl clenches her fists and zips toward the Kugeki. The fire from Flare's attack parts in the face of the blinding streak of electricity.
"Precure Fusion Bolt!"
She is met with heavy resistance as the Kugeki dedicates the rest of its tentacles to block her special move. Exerting even more force, Bolt smashes past the jelly-lined wall of appendages and comes face-to-face with Touya. His hardened gaze morphs into an expression of utter shock…before the light within his eyes is blotted out.
Touya breathes heavily as he is abruptly dragged out of his own memories. One moment, he was commanding Zekrom to attack Reshiram, right before the Ultra Beast crashed the battle, and the next, the throne room has been completely cleared out. The only things left are him…and his clone.
The trainer has been feeling jolts wrack his body ever since his memory started replaying before him. Disjointed voices come with the abnormal pain, and it is the only reason why he is barely able to keep his sanity. Even if he did search for his lost past and had asked for these memories, he's now being forced to experience them all over without any way of changing the outcome. His body is stuck repeating the same motions, and his mouth keeps spewing out the same words. Even his heart, which should have been fueled by the anger he felt back then, is becoming numb, and he only clings to his fading emotions because he fears what will happen if he lets go.
Then, he is assaulted by a high-voltage shock, and his vision turns black. Now, his clone is standing before him again, clutching his head and howling to the ceiling.
"Zekrom could have done something! It could have saved me, but that's not what it did! Why?!"
Touya had also been questioning Zekrom's decision to ignore his orders. Thanks to this space, he had been reliving the same day again and again. Watching how everything unfolded, he wondered why things turned out the way they did.
Zekrom had most definitely awakened to his call. He was its hero…
"Why…did Zekrom choose me?" Touya finds himself asking.
His doppelganger doesn't miss a beat. "Because I carry the ideals and dreams of the Unova region within me."
Touya nods his agreement; that is the answer his memories are telling him. He fought N and Team Plasma because he saw just how much people and Pokémon needed each other. He couldn't sit back while his friends' dreams were being threatened.
That's right. Touya was fighting for something bigger than himself. So then, why doesn't it feel like it's enough?
Would Zekrom…really acknowledge such a flimsy resolve?
"A flimsy resolve…? Ahhhh…"
His clone musters a remorseful smile, arriving at the same conclusion as Touya. With the aura around him, his grin is more self-deprecating than anything. "Ahh, I get it now. I am just…a vessel. I wanted to protect everyone's dreams, but I never had one of my own. Zekrom only fought for the beliefs that were entrusted to me."
The energy emitting from Touya's double spikes in intensity. An Ultra Wormhole opens above the doppelganger's head, and Nihilego descends once more to finally claim its prey.
"I am not a hero. From the very beginning, I had no chance of winning. In the face of such a strong and pure desire, I have nothing!"
Touya's heart rate accelerates when the Ultra Beast zooms down, tentacles ready to bind the doppelganger. Something in his guts tells him that, if he lets it take his double away, he'll return to being that oblivious trainer.
A chorus of cries pierces Touya's ears. He recognizes those voices, and to make sure, he digs into his jacket pocket and feels the familiar texture of Samurott's Poké Ball. He couldn't hear them at all when he was trapped in his looping memory, but now he's gained control of himself again, their voices ring loud as though they have been shouting at the top of their lungs.
Right then and there, he understands what his Pokémon has been trying to convey.
With their cries filling him with determination, Touya immediately breaks into a sprint. He closes the distance and grabs his double, dragging them both away from the Ultra Beast. The tentacle creature bashes into the floor and crumples from the impact.
Now that his clone isn't in danger, Touya draws out the five Poké Balls in his pocket. The double searches his own jacket, but he comes up empty.
"Why do you have them?!"
"Your Pokémon have been worrying about you ever since coming to this world. You were badly hurt by everything that went down. They even agreed to let those people seal your memories away if it meant you could avoid this pain."
"...What?"
"I thought they wanted me to be you, but I was wrong. They wanted me to be someone who will take all that guilt and use it to move forward."
The double pointedly stares at the floor. "Move forward? How am I supposed to do that? I have failed everyone! Ghetsis won!"
"No, he hasn't! Don't give up!"
Naturally, Touya startles his counterpart, but he keeps going. "You said it yourself that you carried everyone's dreams. I know how strong their wishes are; they were strong enough to move Zekrom! All of our friends won't go down that easily! We have to believe in them!"
"Ghetsis still has N in his grasp! The only way we can save him is to prove him wrong with Zekrom! Unless N is freed, we can't do anything to Ghetsis!"
"Then, that's what we'll do. We'll prove ourselves to Zekrom and have it fully acknowledge us as its hero. In order to do that, we need a dream of our own."
"A dream…can we really find one?"
"Of course. That's why we went on a journey in the first place. It has to be out there."
Touya extends a hand out to his double, earning a gasp in return. "I said I would take on your mission, but I can't achieve it without you. You're the part of me that regrets how I was…and the part of me that wants to change the most. My resolve."
Shaken by Touya's determination, the doppelganger eyes Touya's peace offering with a remorseful expression. Can he really regain Zekrom's trust after all that had transpired? Will he be able to stand side-by-side with N?
He knows that, if he voices these questions aloud, Touya would tell him to believe in himself. Because…if he gives up hope, he can never complete his mission.
The doppelganger reaches out and firmly shakes Touya's hand. Its form begins to shimmer, becoming more incorporeal. Soon, there's nothing left of his distorted past self. Touya can't feel any of the overwhelming anger and despair.
The Ultra Beast chooses that moment to recover. It trembles with effort as it tries to pick itself up, but from how hard it hit the floor, it no longer has enough strength. Touya walks forward and bends down to observe the Nihilego.
"I don't know how Ghetsis got your hands on you, but once we escape from this place, you're free to go home. I know people who can help you."
Nihilego crawls towards Touya and wraps him with its tentacles. The trainer pats the Ultra Beast before lifting it up on his back. As it drops its head on top of the trainer, it lets out a lonely whine. Touya then feels a gust of charged warmth heading his way. He sees two winged figures flying toward him, backed by a twister of white and black energy.
He's…felt this sensation before. That's right. This is the same as when Reshiram and Zekrom fired their signature moves at each other.
The voices that have been trying to get through to him are much clearer now. They shout with great force, barreling through whatever is muffling them.
"Precure…Monochrome…Spiral!"
The mysterious silhouettes reach out to the trainer, and with both of his hands in their palms, he blacks out.
Touya awakens to the sound of Touko making small talk with someone familiar-sounding. When he opens his eyes, he finds her in what appears to be a video call with Gladion. Instead of his torn black hoodie, he's dressed in a white dress shirt and a black vest, complete with a red tie that's been wrapped in the shape of a makeshift bow. The trainer swings his legs over the edge of the bed and steadies himself easily.
Touko notices him first, whipping her head around to quickly inspect her friend. He stumbles at the sudden contact but lets her fuss over him. Once she finishes her sweep, her worried frown gives away to a relieved smile.
He's not sure why she reacted the way she did. Wasn't she heading toward Mistralton City? Why is she here? And where exactly is he?
"W-Wher…?" Wow, his throat is dry.
Touko turns away for a moment. "Mei, can you-?"
"Already had one prepared! Here you go! I'm Mei if you didn't catch that! It's great to meet you."
With a cheeky grin, Mei plops a plastic cup full of water in his hands. As he greedily gulps down the cool liquid, Colress watches Gladion receive a file from Wicke and inquires about its contents. Instead of enlightening the researcher, he focuses his attention on Touya.
"How are you feeling?"
"Uhh…" He slowly flexes his hands. It doesn't seem like anything's out of place. "I'm…great, actually. Though, how come you're…?"
"I'll explain later. More importantly, do you remember anything? What you were doing before? Tell us what you know."
Touya slowly nods, knowing from his previous encounter with Gladion that the fastest way to get information out of him is to go along with him. His sluggish mind begins to whir as he recounts the events leading up to him blanking out with Nihilego. He discovers that it isn't hard to talk about his past. If he had remembered everything without being able to connect with his past self, he would have been lost to the whirlpool of self-hatred and anger.
When he finishes, Mei is understandably enraged by his story. "Just when you think Ghetsis couldn't get any worse! I bet he never intended to let that battle play out in the slightest!"
Touko pulls her cap down to hide her bitter glare. "He stomped on the resolves of both N and Touya to ensure his own victory. That man never…cared about anyone other than himself."
"He was able to get his hands on an Ultra Beast," Gladion muses aloud, "Not in this world but in another. How…?"
"Ghetsis has more connections than you think," informs Colress, "Perhaps, in Touya's world, he made contact with the Aether Foundation and secured an Ultra Beast from them."
"That's impossible. Moth–the previous president, Lusamine, was a possessive woman. She spent years researching Ultra Space just so she can have an Ultra Beast. She wouldn't hand one over to anyone," the blonde shakes his head, "So, you've recovered your memories?"
"Yes."
"That answers some of the questions we have. Right, Touko?"
Reshiram's heroine slowly nods before she glances at Touya and pulls out the luxury ball he had given her.
"This…is your Zekrom's ball, isn't it?" she questions.
"Y-Yeah…"
The room collectively gasps. Colress, especially, begins to vocalize his theory behind Touko's powers. "I see now! Zekrom and Reshiram make up the original dragon. They serve as a substitute for Kyurem's power. And since it used to belong to Touya, it must have been exposed to Ultra Wormhole energy. With these two present, all you would need is the mechanism to transfer the power over, which you would do by reversing a Poké Ball's operations."
Touya tries to follow the scientist's ramblings, but Touko quietly asks him, "Why did you give this to me when it was so important to you?"
Touya has to take a few moments to think about his answer. He remembers the day he gifted it to her. It was after their first meeting, and they had just encountered the Subway Bosses. After a drawn-out battle, they won, and he wanted to commemorate the occasion with a memento. He quickly found that nothing on him would be a suitable gift, save for a lone luxury ball. Touya never questioned why he would have something like that, and he didn't think much about it after he handed it over to Touko.
"I completely forgot I gave that to her. Even though I didn't have my memories, I should have felt some sort of connection. No…it's because I didn't know my past. I let go of that ball without a second thought."
"The same reason I told you then. I thought it would be useful to you."
"Really?" Touko is skeptical of his words, given how her clutch on the capsule has tightened. "...I should give this back to you."
He brings up his hand to stop her from stretching her arm out. "It's yours now. Besides, the Pokémon inside wouldn't like it if they had to suddenly move to another home. It's fine. I'll catch Zekrom with another ball."
Touya fiddles with his hat. He may have answered Touko's question, but now he's wondering why she brought it up in the first place. "Uhh…why do you ask, though?"
Touko rolls a strand of her hair with her finger. "It's related to…what really happened to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"That time you spent reliving your past and talking to the other you… In reality, you were turned into something called a Kugeki, and we reverted you back." After peering at the others and gaining a collective nod of approval, Touko activates her transformation device, which bathes the lab in a scorching white light. When he is able to see again, a winged girl stands in place of her.
He recognizes her appearance; it's the same as one of the figures who flew to him before he passed out.
"Touya," Gladion's curt voice catches his attention, "Since you got involved, you deserve an explanation. Just…keep an open mind. Mei."
"Right! So, the general gist is that…"
After Mei provides a simplified explanation of Kugekis and Precures, with Colress showing him a picture of him as a Kugeki, Touya once again plays with the rim of his hat as he tries to process their side of the story. "Uhh, this is a lot to swallow. I can't believe that was me. Wow, then that makes you two real heroes."
Touko catches the subtle tinge of jealousy in his voice, but before she can reassure him, Mei counters, "Technically, you're one, too! See, N gave me Zekrom, but it only considers him as its hero. You, on the other hand, were able to summon Zekrom."
"What? N let go of Zekrom…?"
Touya pushes that thought aside. "But that's because all of my friends' hopes and dreams were with me. Zekrom responded to that."
"I would like to offer my opinion on this matter."
Zekrom's voice steals everyone's attention. It requests Mei to hand its capsule over to Touya, and she transfers the ultra ball over.
"Zekrom…"
"I am not the Zekrom you know, but my criteria for choosing heroes should not be any different. If you are able to wake Zekrom from its slumber, it means your faith in everyone's ideals is as strong and pure as N's own beliefs. If I may hazard a guess, the reason why your Zekrom disobeyed you is as simple as not wishing to inflict harm on its hero. So long as you stay true to your ideals, I cannot find it in myself to lay a finger on you. I…am also capable of feeling human emotions, and that includes pain and despair."
Touya is left speechless by Zekrom's words. Not once has he heard of Unova's founding legendaries experiencing human emotions. They are lauded as pillars of absolute power and unyielding in their definition of either truth or ideals. But if what Zekrom says is true, then is it possible that, within the short period of time they were together, he and his Zekrom have formed a connection with each other?
"Knowing all this, what will you do now?"
He gets what Zekrom is trying to do, but even with its reassuring words, he has already made his choice.
"I have to look for my dream. I came to hate Zekrom for ignoring my order that day, and it saw me give in to the pain of betrayal. If I want to move on from that, I need a dream of my own. Otherwise, I'll never be able to face Zekrom properly and be its hero."
The ultra ball in Touya's hands rotates and then bounces back to Mei. "A splendid answer."
Touya cheekily grins before fiddling with his cap. Gladion also seems satisfied with Touya's resolve, but his pleased grin drops when he picks up the file he obtained from Wicke. When he opens the cover, his eyes widen at the content. "What is this report?"
Wicke glances at her young master before directly facing Touya. "When you visited Aether Paradise with that Interpol detective, it was actually your second time visiting our headquarters."
"Huh…?" The trainer slowly shakes his head, lowly humming when he tries to scour his memories. He recalls snapshots of a white ceiling, unfamiliar people looking down on him, and a long stretch of red. The next clear memory is him waking up at the Battle Subway.
"Madam Lusamine saw you appear from an Ultra Wormhole," she accounts, her usual carefree demeanor fading with each sentence, "She discovered that, on top of being exposed to a high concentration of Ultra Wormhole energy, you were poisoned by a Nihilego. You were confined to one of our secret labs, and we tried to rouse you from your coma. But…the moment you woke up, you fell into a violent rage. They had to strap you down, and eventually, they sealed away your memories to contain you. The next night, you disappeared from the lab."
"No way…" Mei breathes, hardly able to comprehend Wicke's story. "Then, how did Touya end up in Unova?"
"Reuniclus."
Touya's simple response grabs everyone's attention. "When I was a Kugeki, my Pokémon told me that they let my memories be locked away. Afterward, when no one was looking, Reuniclus teleported me to Unova. Not long after, I met Touko. The rest is history."
Despite receiving one crazy story after another, Touya feels absolutely calm. This has to be his true self, someone who can absorb and believe in everything he hears. Even when he doesn't agree, he still listens and gives each and every experience the benefit of the doubt.
"Thank you, Gladion. And everyone, too. If there's anything I can do to repay you, you just let me know."
The interim president sets the folder down and acknowledges him with a small smirk. "Then, you can help Colress transfer the Ultra Beast to Aether Paradise."
Touya did tell Nihilego that he'll send it back home. "Consider it done."
"I'll send a beast ball over by tomorrow. Colress, I'll contact you again once the Ultra Beast is under our possession. Mei, Touko. Keep up the good work."
The screen goes blank, signaling the end of the call. Colress mentions checking up on Nihilego, who is apparently being kept in the same energy tank that used to house Kyurem. Mei opts to go with him, wanting to take a better look at an Ultra Beast. They exit through the teleporter, leaving Touya and Touko alone.
Reshiram's heroine has been quiet since showing him the luxury ball. Compared to Mei's more vocal reactions, Touko's expression remains a thin frown. He figures that she would be a little surprised by what his past turned out to be, but she is far calmer than he expected.
"I had my suspicions," she muses aloud, unknowingly answering his unspoken questions, "But it's still jarring to learn that you're gone through the same things I did. It's like…you're me, and I'm you."
Her hand grips her other arm, digging into her skin. "No matter what world we're in, N's destined to befriend the legendary Pokémon, whether we reject him or not."
"Do you think Pokémon should be liberated from people?"
"Of course not!" she adamantly denies, "It's one thing if the Pokémon is being mistreated or they choose to leave, but I'll never forgive anyone who tries to forcibly separate people from their Pokémon."
From Touko's declaration, Touya sees where their paths have diverged from each other. How they responded to N's resolve is the key difference, and he finally comprehends just how much of a butterfly effect that has on the outcomes of their journeys.
"I always got this feeling that N was setting me up," he says, "He wanted me to be a hero who will eventually be crushed by his will, but I hesitated at every turn. Alder even had to beg me to take the Dark Stone. In the end, the only decision I didn't hesitate to make was protecting N from the Ultra Beast."
With an encouraging smile, Touya then peers at her, "But you fought against him with all of your strength. You never let him get to you because you truly believed people and Pokémon should be together. You stayed true to yourself, and in the end, everything worked out."
Touko stares at him for what felt like a long time. She…stayed true to herself? That can't be right. She had been denying what her heart was telling her back then. And after N left, she couldn't stop blaming herself for being ignorant and stupid.
There was one question she had constantly asked herself during that time. What would she have done differently? Her initial answer was to be more attentive. She should have realized that something was amiss when N, who couldn't bear seeing Pokémon suffer, was aligned with Team Plasma, who had openly abused Pokémon in front of eyewitnesses. Instead of trying to shut him down before he can even put a word in, she should have listened.
But that's what Touya did, and it still didn't deter N. If she takes away the part where she should have treated him better, then what's left is whether she agreed with him enough to let him have his way.
The answer to that question–Touko finally realizes–will always be no. No matter what, whether she was just starting out, beating Ghetsis, or journeying with N, she would never yield on this.
When she finally speaks again, her gratitude permeates each and every word. "Thanks, Touya. You've…opened my eyes. Everyone's been doing that lately."
"I'm glad to hear it. You had the same expression as my past self," he notes, "We have to keep moving…"
Touko confidently finishes his sentence, "Because we don't want to fall into despair again."
Both heroes stand in silence, carefully filing their newfound resolves into their hearts. Touko finds herself hanging onto the idea of multiple worlds, and a thought emerges from her internal deliberation.
"Does this mean that, even in other worlds, N is stuck under Ghetsis's control until we prove his beliefs wrong?"
"I believe…there's a world out there where N figures out Ghetsis's true plans before it's too late. And wherever that N is, I hope he's able to find happiness with people he trusts."
"Yeah, me too. Hey, can you tell me…what the Touko of your world was like?"
Touya recounts the few moments he shared with the Touko of his world. How she was always raring to battle other trainers. How she always managed to clear his doubts with her gung-ho attitude.
"I bet I would be like that…if I was just a normal trainer," she muses, "Someone who really likes to battle and is good at it…"
"Sometimes, I wonder if she thinks of anything else. She always derails our conversations to Pokémon battles."
"It goes to show just how passionate she is."
The word "passionate" rears up one of Touya's memories like a trigger word. It only lasts a brief second, but he immediately deems the knowledge contained within it as cursed. Wanting to know if Touko has also experienced the same thing, he asks, "Hey. Do you remember…N shouting something when he called forth Zekrom?"
Touko furrows her eyebrows. "Now that you mention it, he did! 'It's shocking!' is what he said."
Touya dips his head down, shoving his cap over his face. Touko leans forward but jumps back when the male trainer glances up and releases a long whine.
"How is your N normal?!"
"What? Normal? He didn't say the same thing?"
"No! This is what he said!"
He whispers in Touko's ears, and she soon copies him in hiding her face. Colress and Mei return to the lab, only to find the heroine hunched over while Touya is asking her what's wrong. When Touko finally reveals her face, Mei sees that a manic grin has taken over her partner.
"Mei, I think I found a solution to my problem!"
Touko practically drags Mei back to Driftveil City. When they enter the Pokémon Center, they spot N and Kyouhei on a couch, shifting what seems to be a collection of makeup products. The intern pulls out a small poster and intently observes its contents.
"Hi, N! We're back!" The actress greets her two friends with an eager wave.
The green-haired man smiles back as he puts the bottle down. "Did you finish your business in Nacrene City?"
"Sure did! I was able to smoothly resolve everything, thanks to Touko!"
His gaze trails Touko, who is eyeing the stash of makeup. She narrows her eyes as she recognizes the label. "Did you visit those Team Flare grunts? They didn't make you buy all of this, right?"
"Not exactly," Kyouhei answers, "N was accompanying me around the city, and we ended up at their stall. They had information regarding an incident I'm looking into, and in exchange for it, we have to promote their products."
Mei grabs a bottle of makeup remover. "Hey, why don't you give these to me? I can get the people at Join Avenue to help."
"You're a lifesaver, Mei. Take it all. The only thing I want to keep is this poster."
He flips the paper in his hands. On it is a sketch of two winged girls defiantly staring into the distance. One of them is standing tall, her arm stretched out as though to stop something in its tracks. The other is posed bending low to the floor, her crackling fist raised and ready to embed itself into her supposed target.
Touko can't help but recoil. This is…a picture of them as Precures. How did those grunts…?
"No way! They remember?!"
"Oh my. Is it too late to tell them to keep their experience as a Kugeki a secret?"
Kyouhei notes Touko's reaction in his handbook. He was just about to discard the poster as yet another piece of nonsensical evidence when they showed up. She definitely knows something, but thanks to their agreement, he can't ask her yet.
The intern folds the poster and stores it in his bag. He gets up from the couch and slowly stretches his legs. "Well, time to hit the hay. Thanks for the company, N."
"You're welcome. Have a good night."
"Good night, Kyouhei!" Mei calls out as she swipes the makeup products. After securing them all in her own bag, she gives Touko a quick salute.
"I'm going to make a few calls to my staff at Join Avenue. Don't worry. I'll be quick!"
She sprints in the direction of the cafeteria, where she detects a decently-sized potted plant right next to the entranceway. The actress immediately tucks herself behind it.
"This is the perfect spot! Now, let's see if Touko's idea works!"
"I will excuse this blatant act of stalking just this once. She did ask us to remain on standby should her plan fail."
"I'm…sorry for leaving you alone so suddenly," Touko starts. Good, her voice sounds stable enough. "Mei really needed my help."
N calmly shakes his head. "You don't need to apologize. She has also dragged me along on a few occasions. It's a habit of hers."
"What were you and Kyouhei doing?"
His expression darkens as he peers at the exit of the Pokémon Center. "He was investigating the giant Amoongus that appeared yesterday. However, it seems no one in the city knows where it came from or how it became so big. The Team Flare grunts were no better. They went on about angels saving them, and Kyouhei clearly didn't believe what they were saying. But when they gave him that poster…"
N stands up and hovers close to Touko's ear. Lowering his voice, he murmurs, "I didn't tell him, but one of those girls is Cure Flare. The grunts must have met her."
Touko becomes fixated on the closeness of his breath against her skin. He hasn't dropped his serious frown yet, and his voice is bringing up that dream again. She can already feel herself shutting down from embarrassment, but Reshiram reminds her right in the nick of time.
"Quick! Remember what Touya said!"
She takes a deep breath and conjures an image of N in her head. He has his back to her, glancing up in awe at Reshiram. With his arms spread out and a downright maniacal grin twisting his face, he hollers with reverence.
"Burn, baby, burn!"
Touko bites the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. "Huh, so that's what she looks like. The picture seems pretty detailed."
"I'm worried about her," N says, "She is trying to conceal herself, but now that Kyouhei has an image of her, it might not be long before the public learns of her existence. I have to warn her, but I don't know where to look."
"Burn, baby, burn!" The imaginary N cackles at the top of his lungs. Touko moves a hand to hide her lips.
"Let's search for her tomorrow! If those grunts did meet her recently, she has to be somewhere nearby."
"Thank you. Ah, I should let you have your rest. You're rooming with Mei, correct?"
"BURN, BABY, BURN!"
"Well, I was thinking…we've been sharing a room throughout this journey, so maybe we should keep the arrangements the same?"
"I would like that, as well. I've gotten used to waking up beside you," N admits. He gestures toward the hall leading to their room, his grin downright euphoric.
Wait.
Touko gasps when she suddenly sees herself in the confines of their hotel room, looking up at N. He's smiling as though the sight of her is activating some sort of hidden sadistic urge. His lips swoop to her ears, his breath aggravating her skin crimson.
"Burn for me, baby."
She clutches her head. No, her plan was perfect! It was working! But now, N's panting voice plagues her ears, and there's only one thing she can think of to stop it from looping repeatedly.
"N-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
With a deadpan expression, Mei clamps her ears shut. Zekrom lets out a disappointed sigh.
"So much for that."
"You were so close, Touko…"
Profile: Touya
The main protagonist of Pokémon White. Hailing from another Unova, he once called upon Zekrom to assist him with his fight against Team Plasma. However, after being spirited away by an Ultra Beast, he soon had his memories suppressed, and he became nothing more than an ordinary trainer. His meeting with Touko started him on the path to making peace with his past and finding out who he wants to be. He's a reserved trainer who has come to place a great amount of trust in his Pokémon. Like Mei, he possesses a charm that makes it easy for people to confide in him. After rediscovering his past, he plans to find a dream of his own in order to regain his Zekrom's trust.
Age: 17
Horoscope: Alomomola
Team: Samurott, Escavalier, Reuniclus, Scrafty, Braviary