Chapter Fourteen: Plasma Plans

Touko couldn't help but marvel at the wondrous views Skyarrow Bridge gave her as she crossed into Castelia City. She was a bit tired afterwards but it was a good workout and she took her time exploring Castelia City. Her first stop was the Battle Company, where all her Pokemon, especially Rufflet, were eager to show their stuff. After some battling and healing, as well as being stopped to answer some random surveys, Touko was able to find the Pokemon Gym in the big city. As she tried to entered, she suddenly bumped into Cheren who was coming out.

"Hey, Touko. I just challenged the Gym Leader Burgh." He waved his hand dismissively, flipping some hair from his face.

"Is he tough?" Touko was curious, having wanted to battle him next.

"He's a seasoned Gym Leader. He made me work for that badge!" Cheren laughed and as did Touko, although Cheren coughed and shrugged. "But for me, Bug-type Pokemon aren't much of a challenge. And you know, I'm going to keep winning like this against all of the Unova region's Gym Leaders!" He grinned yet didn't catch the roll of Touko's eyes. "Then I'll head for the Pokemon League and outperform the Champion! If I do that, everyone will admit what a strong Trainer I am... That will make me feel truly alive..." Touko kind of zoned off at the end, even missing when Cheren walked off, having been thinking about her own Gym Battle. She snapped back as the Gym doors opened and Burgh stepped out.

"Ah hah! You're the one who fought Team Plasma in Pinwheel Forest... If I remember, your name is..." He greeted her with a smile, tapping his chin.

"Touko."

"Touko!" He smiled, throwing his arms wide and taking credit. "Come to challenge the Gym, I suppose? I need you to wait though, I was informed that Team Plasma has shown up!" He looked Touko over, thinking. "In fact... come with me! I'm going to the dock at Prime Pier!" He waved before hurrying off and leaving Touko standing there. Touko didn't want to keep Burgh waiting so she headed there next.

...

"Come on! This way!" Burgh waved her over as she descended the steps onto the pier and towards the group of three. "Team Plasma... They took this young lady's Pokemon." Touko looked over at Bianca and this young-looking full head of black hair girl.

"Bianca's Pokemon?! Team Plasma stole Bianca's Pokemon?!" Touko's hands balled into fists and she dug her nails in her skin in anger. "Oh Distortion World no!"

"Touko, is there anything we can do? My Munna... Team Plasma took it..." Bianca sniffled, her eyes were a bit red and Touko knew that she was holding in tears. Suddenly the younger girl besides her spoke up.

"I heard this lady's scream and ran after the thief as fast as I could! But this city is so big and so crowded... I'm afraid I lost them." She looked sad and her wild mane of hair hid her face.

"Iris..." Burgh approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder gently. "You did everything you could."

"But that's so bad! Taking people's Pokemon is really bad! 'Cause it's really nice when people and Pokemon are together! They have something the other doesn't, and they help each other!" Touko couldn't help but smile at the seemingly 10-year old who held so much spunk. Burgh just nodded his head.

"Agreed! No fear - we will get that Pokemon back." He turned to Touko, eyeing her. "Right, Touko?"

"Of course! That's my best friend's Pokemon they stole!" She grabbed at a Pokeball and squeezed it. "Big mistake!" He sighed and looked to the ground, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Having said that, finding a person or a Pokemon here in Castelia City will be like finding a needle in a haystack." As soon as he finished talking, everyone was alerted to footsteps behind them. Turning around revealed a Team Plasma grunt who looked alarm to see the group.

"I spy a Gym Leader?! Last time went so well, I thought I'd grab another Pokemon... Rethinking... I need to get out of here!" He suddenly hurried away and Burgh sprang into action.

"Touko, let's go! Iris, you stay by this young lady's side." He ran off in hot pursuit and Iris just nodded at Touko.

"I'm going to be Bianca's bodyguard. You go after those bad guys, okay?" Touko nodded, giving Bianca a long look which she just nodded slightly and Touko nodded in return, hurrying off.

...

She caught up eventually to Burgh, spotting him deciding on which way to go, finally deciding upon going down towards his Pokemon Gym. "That way!" He peered down the roadway. "M'hm. There, heading toward the Gym?!" Upon noticing this, he quickly ran down and Touko chased after. She caught up to him, standing in front of three Plasma grunts and looking over the building. "This is definitely the place."

"No one's here! Not a soul!" The lead Plasma member spoke, waving his hands around dismissively. "No other Team Plasma members, nor any Seven Sages, are inside." He peered at Touko and Burgh, realizing they weren't falling for it. "...If you think I'm lying, why don't we have a little battle and find out?"

"Fine, then you better let us in!" Touko grabbed Servine's Pokeball and called him out. The Plasma Grunt just chuckled, grinning.

"I'll handle this weak-looking runt so you can show of by handling that tough-looking guy over there!"

...

"This is bad..." The Team Plasma grunt backed up, along with his companions. "Badbadbadbadbadbadbad! Bad for Team Plasma! Or Plasabad, for short! It's in my best interest to go report to the Seven Sages right now!" The Plasma grunts ran into the building just as Iris and Bianca showed up.

"Phew, we got lost." Iris wiped some shine off her forehead and Bianca was breathing a bit heavy. "Even with the directions from the Xtransceiver, I couldn't figure it out." Burgh paid her no mind, looking at the closed doors of the building.

"Team Plasma is inside. The stolen Pokemon may be in there as well." He suddenly stomped his foot in determination. "Okay, I'm going in!"

"Okay! This time, I'll join the fight! Come on, Bianca. You too!" Iris began to pull Bianca in but she stopped.

"W-wait!" She quickly grabbed onto Touko's arm. "Touko! You come, too!" The two ran in without letting Touko getting a word in, and she sighed. Something didn't feel right about the building but she couldn't leave her friend hanging.

...

When she entered the building, she almost lost her cool. There was a space in between Burgh and Iris for her to stand, but in front of her was the one from Accumula Town, Ghetsis. The two groups had been glaring at each other, but Ghetsis looked up at Touko and she could've sworn he smirked like before. She mentally strengthened herself and took the steps forward to stand by Burgh and Iris. Ghetsis just smiled, feigning surprise as he finally talked.

"My word, if it isn't the Gym Leader, Burgh." Burgh looked angry but he was well at keeping a calm composure.

"So, what would you say is the guiding principle of Team Plasma, anyway?" He smirked this time. "'Take what you want from people'"? The man besides Ghetsis who appeared to be one of the Seven Sages spoke up, turning to Ghetsis.

"I thought it would be amusing to prepare a hideout right in front of a Pokemon Gym, but we were detected more quickly than I imagined." Ghetsis just nodded, his eye scanning over the group to rest on Touko forcing her to keep herself from shrinking back. She couldn't look weak!

"Indeed... No matter. We already have an exceptional base of operations." His eye continued to be locked on Touko even as he addressed the whole room. "Is everyone familiar with the founding of the Unova Region?" This time Iris spoke up, seeming enthused despite the circumstance.

"I am! It's the black Dragon-type Pokemon, right?"

"The truth is this..." He took a step towards Touko and her foot moved back but she forced herself to stay calm as he paced to stand in front of Burgh, looking at him. "The black dragon appeared before a hero who sought the ideal way to knit together a world full of warring people. This black Dragon-type Pokemon shared its knowledge - and bared its fangs at those who stood against it. Together, the power of this Pokemon and the hero who brought unity to the hearts of everyone in the land, and that is how Unova was created." Ghetsis paced once more, this time to stand in front of Iris and raise his hand in power. "We shall bring back the hero and that Pokemon to Unova once again! If we can win people's hearts and minds, we can easily create the world that I - I mean, Team Plasma - desires!" Ghetsis paced again, this time to once more stand in front of Touko and stare into her eyes. She bit her lip and forced herself to return that eye contact, albeit not as gruffly.

"Here in Castelia, we have a lot of different kinds of people. Everyone's ways of thinking and lifestyles are very different." Burgh paused his response, thinking. "Honestly, there's something about what you're saying I don't quite understand." His responses from the two Sages were inquiries, yet Ghetsis just focused on Touko. "One thing we all have in common is that we all care a lot about Pokemon. Even people meeting for the first time can talk about Pokemon. Talk or battle or trade..." Burgh paused, rubbing his chin before stepping up to stand near Ghetsis who finally turned his attention to him. "Remember your speech at Accumula Town?"

"Why of course." Ghetsis said simply, going to continue but Burgh continued first.

"You were responsible for leading me to rethink my relationship with Pokemon. For that, I thank you." Most of the people in the room seemed surprised, how could a Gym Leader say that? "At that time, I made a promise..." He had been looking towards the ground when he talked but now he looked up sharply with a sparkle in his eye. "I swore myself that I would dedicate myself to Pokemon even more strongly!" He grinned before looking over the entire Plasma group. "What you guys are doing... Aren't you going to strengthen the bond between people and Pokemon even more?" There was silence before Ghetsis just smirked and burst out into an evil laughter.

"Myah-ha-ha-ha! You are quite hard to figure out - a little more intelligent than I'd expected. I am fond of intelligent people, you see. You'll enjoy hearing about this..." He looked at the group and once more rested his eyes on Touko. "From every corner of the world, I have gathered knowledgeable people for our king's benefit. You could call them the Seven Sages." He smiled but then closed his eyes, raising his arm as if he was closing a speech. "Very well! We will submit to your opinion and be on our way." He looked to the Seven Sage besides him. "That girl over there... Return her Pokemon!" He barked and the Plasma Grunt released the captive Pokemon, Munna. She looked around in confusion and fear before noticing Bianca and running to her. Bianca embraced her lovingly and placed her back in her Pokeball.

"Th-thank you! Munny, I'm so glad to see you again!" She kissed the Pokeball lovingly and the Plasma group just watched her judgingly.

"Why are you thanking them? They take people's precious Pokemon!" Iris yelled at her, but Bianca seemed indifferent.

"It's just... I'm... I'm so happy that my Munna is safe." At this, Ghetsis spoke up.

"The friendship between Pokemon and people can be very touching. But, in order to liberate Pokemon from foolish people, we will revive the legend of Unova - and win the hearts and minds of everyone." His eye locked on Touko, and he stayed like that for a moment. "Farewell..." At this, a Smoke Bomb was let out by one of the Plasma grunts and everything went black. Touko covered her mouth and swatting at the smoke, feeling something brush against her. "You better watch what you're dealing with. In every aspect of your life." The voice, Touko could've sworn it was Ghetsis. A few moments later, the false smoke dissipated into the air, leaving Iris angry as she ran over to Burgh.

"What are you doing? Why are you letting them get away?!" Burgh coughed once, looking at Iris.

"Gah! What do we do if anything's happened to the other stolen Pokemon?" Bianca interrupted the two, cradling Munna's Pokeball.

"It's okay. Thank you, Iris! No one was hurt. More than anything, I got my darling Pokemon back again!" Iris just looked dejectedly at Bianca before sighing and nodding.

"Okay, if you're happy..." Burgh nodding, changing the topic of conversation.

"What is everyone planning to do now?" Bianca stepped forward, tapping her chin.

"Oh, it would be sensational to look around Castelia City, but..." Iris suddenly became alert, grabbing onto Bianca's hands.

"Don't worry! I'll keep on being your bodyguard!" Bianca tried to shrink back, but the ten year old was strong.

"Iris..." Burgh just laughed and smiled.

"Uh-hm. That's great! Iris is a dazzling Pokemon Trainer, but maybe not at home in the big city yet. So a little give-and-take, hm! People and Pokemon need to help each other out!" Iris nodded excitedly before turning to Touko.

"Also, thanks for looking for the Pokemon! Here, this is for you!" It was a Yache Berry but Touko accepted it with a smile.

"Thanks." Iris just nodded, grabbing onto Bianca and waving.

"See you!" Burgh just nodded as if everything was settled.

"Well then, Touko." He grinned and winked at her. "I'll be waiting in the Gym." Touko grinned back, nodding.

"See you there!"