Pokemon Adventures: Where Legends Cross
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon Adventures/Special.
Moving on, moving on. I'm trying. And we have a text next week. Yay! *gets shot*
Began writing in April 20th, 2011. Currently drafting Chapter 20.
Chapter 4. Vs. Vanilluxe: The Titan Consults
- Team Plasma Hideout, the Throne Room -
"Zoroark, Focus Blast. Valliluxe, Blizzard." N ordered quietly.
Vanilluxe quickly charged up a cracking orb of ice between its horns, but Zoroark was faster. With a triumphant roar the Illusion Fox Pokemon smashed the orb of pure energy straight into the Snowstorm Pokemon's face, sending it flying across the opposite wall where it sprawled onto the floor with a dizzy groan.
Oh, well done! Clapped Carracosta as Archeops hooted excitedly from the audience. Chuckling in satisfaction, Zoroark walked over to the fallen Vanilluxe and helped him up, giving the ice-type a friendly flick on the head with his bushy tail before walking over to N, who was standing back and watching the heartwarming scene with that usual thin smile on his face.
"You've both done well," he said softly, exchanging a short look with Zoroark before giving a Sitrus Berry for Vanilluxe to munch on. "As long as we keep this on, I have no doubt that together we shall beat even the Champion."
"That is well said, N."
Turning around at the rumbling voice, N looked up to see Zekrom towering over him, his expression serious and unreadable despite his soft words.
"A Trainer's Pokemon can only be strong as the Trainer is," the Deep Black Pokemon continued, looking straight into N's gray eyes. "Thus, your Pokemon will not reach their fullest potential unless you rid yourself of the doubt that is still present in your heart."
Looking at N's surprised face he pushed further: "Do you plan on telling me that it is not doubt that clouds your face even now?"
N opened his mouth to protest, but paused as he tried to think of the right answer. Was he in doubt? If he was, then of what?
"Is it those two newborns?"
As soon as Zekrom's words were out N knew he was right. And the answer came along easily after that.
"All my life I've seen Pokemon suffering under human control," he began, thinking back to when he had first met them in Accumula Town. "This world that I know is where human and Pokemon cannot coexist, a gray world where human interference only brings pain and sadness among Pokemon." He paused.
"Continue," Zekrom prompted, and N could detect a hint of interest in his voice. No small wonder.
"It's mostly the boy," N admitted, his memories carrying him further. "The girl is still new to being a real Trainer, and the boy is influencing her. He escapes my understanding, my Lord. I can't comprehend the way his Pokemon regard him, how content they are under his control. No, content isn't enough. They love him, adore him. The first time I battled him I could clearly hear them screaming at me that I was wrong, that the boy was their comrade. To this day he remains to be an insolvable formula to me..."
N trailed off as he noticed Zekrom's expression, which had sunk into deep thought.
"This boy that you speak of," he said slowly after a short while. "Tell me about him."
N wasn't surprised by the genuine interest the deity was showing; after all, he himself was very curious about the young man who called himself Black as well.
"He is an... interesting person on his own - not that he's any different from Trainers who lock their Pokemon inside Poke Balls," N quickly added with slight disdain. "He is ambitious, all his thoughts focused on conquering the Pokemon League. He believes that his Pokemon are his comrades, working towards the same goal.
"That is not unlike you," Zekrom pointed out.
"Indeed," N agreed. "It's a shame that such a kind-hearted person can't see my dreams. It looks as if he has yet to see the truth of human relationship with Pokemon. He tries, despite so. He doesn't treat me like an enemy in any case..."
As N went on through his explanation, Zekrom's thoughful expression deepened until N began wondering if he was listening to him at all. Then, after he was done, those crimson eyes opened to reveal amusement within them.
"I see," he said, looking as if he would chuckle. "He sounds like a king of herson that Reshiram would have liked."
N blinked in surprise as he looked up at the Deep Black Pokemon. From what part of his words had he inferred that?
Apparantly noticing his confusion, Zekrom spoke: "Perhaps it will help your understanding if I tell you about our past."
N nodded eagerly. He had often heard about the old legends of Unova from the Sages, but hearing it from the legendary figure himself was bound to be different.
"The old tales are correct in saying that Reshiram and I were once one and the same," Zekrom began as his gaze wandered away to someplace far away, back to the distant past before this land was born. "When the universe was still young, we as a single entity were tasked with maintaining its flow of energy. When this planet came to be we rested ourself in this region, which soon flourished with energy under our influence."
"We overlooked this land as Pokemon and humans rose from it, evolved to be what they are now, made history. In time our eyes came to rest on a pair of humans, two brothers of nobility and grace. Both were as brave, wise and talented as a human could hope to be... you could say that they were worshipped by others as heroes. It was not long before they gained knowledge of us, and also our respect."
"More so than what I have gained from you," N supposed.
"Perhaps not," Zekrom returned amusedly. "With us by their side the brothers soon rose to be great and powerful among other humans, and it is they who had first set up the foundations for this region."
"But alas, we have overlooked their differences. While the brothers shared each others' courage and wisdom perfectly, their personalities clashed when it came to fulfilling their dreams. We soon realized that the younger was a dreamer, his head filled with his idea of an ideal world an the willpower to make it real. The elder, while I cannot speak for him, seemed to be a more practical figure, believing that his sibling was blinded from the truth. Their disagreements soon rose to hazardous levels, until the two were finally at open war."
N's eyes grew round as Zekrom's story began sinking into him. In his mind, this had already ceased to be a story of the past.
"With heavy hearts we realized that we could not be loyal to both brothers," continued the deity with a heavy sigh. "So, by the means of a higher power we split ourself into two seperate beings, each a part of our torn self between the two objectives. Our heart, yearning for the dreams and ideals of the younger, took the form of lightning energy and became I, Zekrom of the Black Yin. Our mind, accepting the truth and reality the older sought for, took the form of fire energy and became she, Reshiram of the White Yang. That is how we came to be."
Having said up to here, the Deep Black Pokemon paused for a long time. N, wanting to respect his silence but curious about the rest of the story, carefully asked: "Then it is true that the two of you fought for the brothers separately to pursue their separate values?"
"Too correct, I fear," Zekrom sighed again, his tone almost lamenting. "Ah, how torn both of us were that bloody day! Many precious things were marred, and from that day we were lost to each other forever."
N blinked again. He had expected the relationship between Reshiram and Zekrom to be something more hostile (not that he'd wish it, no), in the least bordering on rivalry. "You express much sorrow from your separation, my Lord."
"Is it so wrong to regret?" Zekrom asked back unhappily, now even his eyes betraying grief. "She was once a part of me, N, and I of her. Losing her was like having an entire half of me being torn out, and it was not a pleasant experience. Like a sister she is to me, and still she is - and always will be - sorely missed."
Hearing those words N couldn't help but become solemn, bowing his head and allowing the deity to mourn in silence. Even his Pokemon were hushed as they slowly gathered around him, looking up at the grieved face in wonder.
This state lasted for about a minute, ending when Zekrom abruptly shook his head vigorously, sending the Pokemon flinching and breaking N out of his own deep thought.
"It seems that I owe you an apology," murmured the Deep Black Pokemon. "What's done is done. The burden of our blunder is our to carry. It was weak of me to ease it by trying to put some on you."
"Not at all, Lord," N insisted, stepping back slightly before dipping his head. "No one can be blamed for grieving over past mistakes. Thank you for telling me this, Lord Zekrom. I now know what you have sacrificed for all this."
Zekrom nodded. "That is well," he rumbled quietly. "When I first met you, I almost immediately saw the younger brother, my old partner, in you. If what you say is accurate, the boy you speak of is not so different from the elder. That is what I meant when I said that Reshiram would have liked him."
"I understand," said N with another bow. Then suddenly, a wild idea passed through his head. "My Lord, if he ever calls upon Reshiram like I have with you... would she answer?"
Zekrom stiffened, obviously caught off-guard by the question. "...Why do you ask that?"
"Because I think you are right about me and him," N answered truthfully, meeting the deity's surprised eyes evenly. "Ever since I was young, I was raised by the Sages to free Pokemon from humans. They belived that with my powers and affection for Pokemon, I could prove myself a hero like the figures of old."
"Honestly, though, I didn't take their faith seriously. They continued to try and fit me into a hero's category, but all I could see myself as was a friend trying to ease the sufferings of Pokemon, not some legendary figure to come flying for their ultimate salvation."
"Then everything changed after I met him, someone so like me and yet so different. From then I began to take the old myths more seriously, and also my role as King. In him I COULD see a hero, so I figured that to be able to face him I must be a hero as well, just like the brothers in the old legend. I feel as if destiny wants us to meet in battle once again, to prove whose virtue is superior once and for all. If he is like a destined rival to me, would it not make sense that Reshiram would come to him as you have come to me?"
Having said that, N looked up at a silent Zekrom once again, patiently waiting for an answer. Or had he asked too much?
"... That is a difficult question to answer, N," the deity spoke eventually, looking down at the Trainer with slight uncertainty. "Reshiram in more less likely to open her heart to a human than I. And I can see that you think very highly of the boy - in the least as your equal - and if he is as every bit as deserving of your praise as you claim, then I cannot say that it is impossible, how far-fetched it may be."
"I see..." N murmured, sinking into deep thought again. He did not doubt Black's capabilities, and if what Zekrom had said was correct, then soon he might be facing the greatest challenge to his meaning of like so far; a Trainer loved by his Pokemon, the ultimate inexplicable formula. Would he be able to find a solution for this equation, or will be he proven wrong his entire hypothesis?
N wasn't sure he could answer.
"I now see the source of your doubt," Zekrom gave a low rumble, interrupting his melancholy musing. With a thoughtful glance at the Trainer's surprised face he continued: "You are afraid, N, that you have met your match here. You fear that the boy is more worthy of a hero than you are."
N blinked, playing the deity's words over in his head. Was he right? Was he afraid of being outdone by Black? Yes, but there was a deeper reason, more specific: he feared that his view of the world was in fact wrong, that Pokemon and human can exist in harmony. And here stood Black, a living example of such a life. A perfect refutation to his ideals.
"Yes, you see what I mean," Zekrom rumbled, noticing his inner turmoil. "That is why you have asked me about Reshiram, is it not? Were you not afraid that it is you that is blinded from the truth?"
"... I believe you are right, Lord Zekrom," N replied, bowing his head. "Even if I can prove that I am right to everyone in this world, I would not be satisfied if I cannot convince him."
"And you will."
The absolute certainty with which Zekrom spoke made N look up at him in surprise. In that moment the great dragon extended one arm until his claws touched the young Trainer's chin, holding it up so that their eyes met.
"Do you remember what I had told you when I first pledged my loyalty to you?" Zekrom asked the dumbfounded Trainer, and continued without waiting for an answer: "I told you to hold on to your ideals, N, until you fulfill it. The path you chose is, admittedly, a difficult one. There will be many hardships on your way, and it is likely that this challenge may not be the last, or even the largest. If your faith wavers now, the only way you can go is down."
"But - "
"If, as you expect, the boy indeed awakens Reshiram and rises to challenge your ideal, you still need not fear; I have already pledged my allegiance to you, and I will stand by you and your ideals - even if it means I have to fight my sister once again."
Then, letting go of N's face to point a clawed hand toward the sky, he firmly announced: "This I swear, in the name of the Highest Power!"
Utterly touched, N opened his mouth to say something, anything, but his voice just wouldn't come out.
I... I...
Hey, chuckled a familiar voice, one that N had known all his life. A furry arm nudged his elbow, and the Trainer looked back to see Zoroark, grinning at him with a knowing look.
You just told us that we can beat the Champion, he said, the grin widening until it split his ears. I believe that.
"Zoroark..." N murmured, then looked around to see that everyone he had gathered - Vanilluxe, Carracosta, Archeops, Klinklank - were crowding around him, yelping, crawing and whispering the same thing.
"You see?" N turned back again to see Zekrom, looking down at the scene with a pleased look. "Is this not proof enough that your ideal is, in the least, not wrong?"
N bowed his head shortly before raising it again, satisfied to feel a smile climbing up his face.
"It is more than enough, Lord Zekrom," he replied, before turning one more time to face his team, who all looked expectantly at him. This time, he knew exactly what he had to say.
"Thank you," he said, his own smile almost reaching his ears. "I'm ready now."
"He's ready now," chuckled Ghetsis, staring down at a small, round stone in his hand with a different kind of smile creeping up his face...
Gah, took so long on this one! I was hoping to upload chapter 5 by next week...
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this at the last chapter, but in case if you're wondering why I stuck to Japanese nicknames for Pearl's Pokemon when I chose the English version for everyone else. Well, for one thing, only half of his team (Saruhiko, Perahiko, Torahiko) HAVE an English nickname at all! At least, that's how I saw it in Bulbapedia. I never got to read the manga itself in English...
Heh, I'm really starting to love how I depicted Zekrom. I'm drafting chapter 23 right now, where Reshiram... ah, no telling! *gets shot*
Well, I think that's all for this one. See ya on the next chapter, where we return to Black and White!
Writing completed on April 24th, 2011. This is Yowl of Time, out.