Chapter 4 - "Let The Dead Rest"

Black sat up groggily, and looked at his phone, seeing that it was 5:00 AM. He looked over at his girlfriend, White, who was sleeping soundly next to him. He smiled warmly, and began to stand up and stretch. He looked around at all the enclosures that held pokemon. He leaned against the rails and watched as the pokemon lived their lives, every single one of them enjoying life without a trainer. He then began to think about his own journey, thinking about the villains who he fought against, with his pokemon and friends at his side. Sure, in the end he became good friends with one of the leaders of the enemy, and he wasn't able to stop them.

He felt the familiar grasp of White's hand against his own. He turned and smiled warmly. She alone had fought Ghetsis at the top of N's castle, and saved Unova from Team Plasma. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips, and she gladly returned it. After a few seconds, they parted and stared into each other's eyes. They remained in silence, until they heard a voice whisper, "I used to wish for this…"

The two looked into the enclosure and saw a man with long flowing green hair petting a Starmie. The man was staring at the Starmie, but seemed lost in his own thoughts, unsure what to think. Black whistled quietly, and the man turned. Black then whispered, "N, that was years ago. You can't still blame yourself for everything."

N shrugged, standing up, and climb out of the enclosure, headed towards his friends. Once he reached them, he whispered, "I do. I caused so much pain for others, going after my own selfish goals…"

White frowned and replied, "And what about the pain that was caused you? Ghetsis, your own adopted father, beat you. Screamed at you. Forced you into a role no one would ever want, especially a child. N, what you did wasn't your fault, it was his, and you know it."

N looked out over the pokemon and sighed. "I know… but when the only place you have to live is your own room from those days… and you have to listen to that damn music box…"

Black retorted, "I offered to get rid of it. That thing's broken anyway."

N nodded but replied, "No, I keep it because it does remind me of the good times I had with my pokemon, but it reminds me of the bad more often than the good." Then he glanced towards the couple with a pang of guilt and asked, "Do you think they'll be okay with my presence? Tomorrow is their wedding, and I was never invited."

The two nodded and smiled, while White replied, "Yes, we're sure they'll be okay with it. Sun and Lillie are some of the nicest people I've met."

N looked visibly reassured, but asked, "Is there any chance we can go ask them? I will not know for certain unless we ask."

The two nodded, and the trio headed for the mansion, noticing all the decorations for the wedding. Celebi and Mew had finally decided that they could incorporate both of their ideas. They had begun hanging white and black ribbons off the trees, with silver ribbon strung from tree to tree, while the mansion itself had black and white ribbons strung across it. Black and White were taken back by the beauty of the decorations, but N just tilted his head in confusion. "Why are they only using white and black? I don't understand."

Black explain, "The sun and moon are extremely important here in Alola, considering the legendary pokemon of the sun and moon lived here, and the white is used to symbolize the sun, the black the moon."

N nodded, beginning to understand the color choice, and noted, "It is beautiful…"

As they were gawking at the decorations, they saw two silhouettes in the dawn light. The two were watching the ocean together, simply enjoying the scene together. The trio walked up to the couple and saw that it was Sun and Lillie. The lovers didn't hear them walk up and were silently holding each other's hands, gazing off over the peaceful waves.

White coughed to get their attention, which startled both of them. The two turned and saw their friends and smiled. "Hey guys. How'd you sleep?" Sun asked.

Black smiled and replied, "Pretty good, considering the last time I was on something that rocked as bad as this artificial island, it was a flying castle."

Lillie blinked and said, "I assume there's a story there…"

White smiled and replied, "Short Version: Black and myself were trying to stop an evil team called Team Plasma, and we eventually chased them to a castle. And the castle started to fly after we got on."

Sun tilted his head back and mumbled, "And I thought the Ultra Wormhole was odd." Then he looked back at his friends and noticed a third man with long green hair, seemingly hiding behind Black and White. Sun smiled at the man and reached his hand out to shake the man's hand. "I don't think we've met…"

The man took a step forward and shook Sun's hand. "My name is Natural Harmonia Gropius…"

White butted in, "Everyone just calls him N." Sun mouthed 'Thank you' in response.

N chuckled and continued, "I was raised by a man named Ghetsis in the Unova region. Under his guidance, I grew to love pokemon, and eventually wished for all pokemon to be free. This was the basis for what many in Team Plasma followed..."

Sun nodded and said, "Sounds similar to the Aether Foundation, which is probably why Colress came to work for the Aether Foundation."

N raised an eyebrow and asked, "So you're aware of Team Plasma?"

Sun shrugged and replied, "Bits and pieces. I'm aware their original leader had a son who he abused and mistreated. This boy loved pokemon and was friends with many pokemon, and was also the prince of Team Plasma. The boy's father spread his lies through his son's mouth, until one day, White defeated both the son and the father, releasing the son, and stopping the father." Then Sun bowed and finished, "I'm sorry if I reopened any old wounds by retelling your past N, Prince of Plasma."

N smiled and said, "It's alright, my friends have been helping me get over what has happened." Then N raised and eyebrow and asked, "But I must ask, how did you know I was the former leader of Team Plasma?"

Sun explained, "The way you referred to your ideals as the 'basis' of Team Plasma. Most people who start organizations use their ideals as the starting point and grow from there."

N nodded and walked over to the fencing and began to lean on it. The four watched N in silence as he spoke. "These ideals of mine got many people hurt. Some even died. My father… no, Ghetsis did horrible things to fulfill his dream over taking over not just Unova, but the world. If I had remained strong, maybe I could have…"

Sun walked over and looked at N. "It's not your fault. This stuff happened years ago, it's the past. Let the dead rest and your own mind shall find peace."

N continued to look over the ocean. Then he whispered, "Wise words, and it sounds like you speak from experience."

Sun nodded and said, "Yeah I do."

N looked at him expecting, but Sun said nothing. Lillie walked over and took Sun's hand and began to answer N's question. "Sun was one of the leaders of the Corps of Silence. He's done lots of evil in his life… much he still regrets, but he's learned to let go." She began to lean on Sun and finished, "With my help."

Sun smiled and replied, "True."

N smiled and whispered, "Thank you…" Then he glanced at Sun and Lillie and asked, "Do you mind if I attend your wedding? It's alright if you say no…"

Lillie laughed and said, "Are you kidding? With the conversation you and Sun just had, I think it's safe to assume you can come."

Sun looked at N and nodded, smiling the entire time. Sun then began to lead Lillie away towards their room, as she had begun to fall back asleep.

When the two had walked back into the mansion, Black said jokingly, "What, so he gives you advice, you take it to heart. We give you advice, you ignore it?"

N looked at his friends and smiled warmly. "Come on, let's go back to bed. We can probably sneak in a few more hours before set up continues."