This story is more Gameverse centered.

Story of N (UnkNownShipping)

"C'mon, Ash! We have to keep running!"

"N, I'm…I'm so tired!"

"I know you are, but we can't stop now! Please, just a little bit more!"

"O-okay…"

Ash and N were running hand-in-hand through Lostlorn Forest, with Pikachu on Ash's shoulder, hoping to get away from the Nimbasa police. Soon enough, it wouldn't be just them that were chasing the duo; N knew that they had called for backup from the Castelia police and possibly even elsewhere. Hell, they might even have the Gym Leaders coming after them.

But they couldn't catch him. At least, not now. He needed to buy some time. As much as possible.

"Up here, Ash!" N pointed ahead with his free hand. Ash would have sighed in relief if he weren't so out of breath.

What N had been pointing at was a small cabin completely surrounded by trees. There was a pond behind the cabin, but nothing else. They had been running through this forest for what felt like hours. Unless you knew exactly where you were going, finding this cabin would be near impossible, even from an aerial view. The trees were thick, their branches extended enough to hover over the wooden structure.

While approaching the cabin, Ash noticed a Zorua sitting by the front door. It cried fiercely as they approached, but not in a threatening manner.

"Zorua," N called out to the Tricky Fox Pokémon. They finally reached the door, the Zorua hoping onto N's shoulder. N pulled a single key out of his pocket, stuck it into the keyhole and swung the door open. "In here," he said, carefully pulling Ash inside and closing the door behind them.

Ash didn't bother to examine the cabin until he collapsed onto the couch he spotted on the far wall, Pikachu jumping onto the floor beside him. He spent a few minutes trying to catch his breath.

"I'll get some water from the back," N said as he walked into the next room, which Ash assumed was the kitchen. He wasn't sure what the 'back' meant, but decided to ignore it until he came back.

Ash didn't notice that Zorua had left N's side and was now curling up in the corner next to a lamp. He glanced around, having nothing else in the room catch his eye besides the fireplace, and rested his head into the couch. He could feel a headache coming on.

N returned a minute later with a glass of water and sat next to Ash, taking the floor. "Here, Ash. It's water from the pond behind the cabin. Don't worry, it's pure water."

Ash raised his head and took the glass, gulping the liquid down quickly and handing it back to N.

They sat in silence for a moment, hearing nothing but the wind rustling the trees outside. It had gotten pretty dark out due to the overabundance of rain clouds and the window hardly lit up the room. The lamp in the room could have provided plenty of light, but no one had bothered to turn it on.

N finally spoke. "Ash, I'm sorry."

"For not telling me about being the King of Team Plasma?" Ash retorted in anger. Neither was looking at one another, Ash turned over facing the couch and N looking away from it. "How could you not tell me something like that?"

"I…I was afraid of how you would react…" N stuttered.

"You were afraid I would leave, weren't you?"

N's eyes widened. Then he lowered his eyebrows. He couldn't expect any less from Ash.

Ash continued. "And now the police are on your case. Do you really think we can hide here for long?"

N lowered his head. "Of course not, Ash. It may take awhile, but they will catch me eventually."

"So you're just giving up?" Ash now turned the other way. He was facing N, but the green-haired boy was still gazing straight ahead. "That's it? The police are onto you and there's no choice but to give up?"

"Ash, I have to give myself up."

"Why?"

"Because we shouldn't be together," N said painfully.

Ash gasped. N's words had stung him. "W-what do you mean?"

"Ash, we could try running away together. Maybe to another region, find somewhere to hide out. But we'll have to live in secret forever. Is that what you really want? What if later on down the road, they do catch us? They'll take you in as well."

"I don't care about that!" Ash yelled, causing N to jump. "I…I just want to be with you!"

"Ash, if I let them catch me now, I can say I was holding you hostage and you can be free. You can live your life and forget all about me."

"No! That's not what I want!" Ash slammed his fist on the couch. "N!"

N spun around and kissed Ash, startling the younger boy. "Ash, you can't live like this. You have to move on."

"But N!" Ash began to tear up. "I can't do that! I just can't!"

"What happened to the boy who said he would never give up his dream of being a Pokémon Master? Huh? What happened to that? Would you really give that up for me?" N had Ash's face in his hands, ready to wipe away his tears.

Ash gritted his teeth. "I…" he wasn't sure how to respond. He never thought he would find something that meant as much to him as being a Pokémon Master.

"I'm only giving this up because I love you, Ash," N kissed Ash's cheek softly. "Do you understand?"

"…No," Ash answered solemnly.

"I think you will someday."

Ash shook his head, not wanting to believe him. He didn't want to have to give up N. He really cared about him a lot. He meant everything to him.

"Ash, what does your Pikachu mean to you?"

Ash's face became one of shock, surprised that N was asking him something like that. " What are you talking about, N? He means so much to me!"

"Would you do anything for Pikachu? Help him if he was in danger?"

"Of course!" he glanced over at the Electric Mouse Pokémon, who was looking at him with sadness in his eyes. He knew Ash was very upset, but wasn't sure what to do. "Of course…"

"And I would do anything for you," N said. "And if that means I have to hand myself to the police in order to let you live your life, I will."

Ash sniffled, trying not to cry, but it was proving far too difficult. It hurt too much for N to tell him all of this, and hurt even more to want to accept it. He shook his head, N releasing his hold on Ash's face.

"No," Ash said with a stern face.

"Ash…" N sighed. "Why won't you—"

"You don't have to give yourself over to the police."

"Hey! It's that boy!" a police officer shouted.

Ash had emerged with Pikachu—and Zorua—from the forest and near the river where many of the Nimbasa police and Elesa were standing. It had been raining for awhile and Ash was completely soaked.

"Ash!" Elesa ran up to the spiky-haired boy. "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you? It's been almost a whole day since anyone has last seen you!"

Ash gazed at her intently before answering. "I'm okay."

"Good," she sighed in relief. "I'm sure you're pretty hungry. Shall we get you something to eat?"

"Ms. Elesa," an officer walked up to her. "Shouldn't we ask the boy what happened to N?"

"Can't we ask him that later?" Elesa retorted sharply. "He's probably been through a lot!"

"I'm…" Ash started, but paused.

"What is it, Ash?" Elesa said.

"I'm not sure where N is. We stopped in the forest for awhile and then he said he was tired so he took a nap. I waited for him to go to sleep, then ran off," Ash lied.

Elesa's eyes widened. "And you made it back here okay?"

"Yeah. He was sleeping pretty soundly. But he hadn't threatened me or anything. I don't think he's that bad a guy, but I didn't want to stay with him forever. I had to get away."

"Well, I'm glad you were able to escape," Elesa placed her hand on Ash's shoulder. "The police may want to question you, but we can save that for later. Let's go grab a bite to eat, I'll get you whatever you want."

"Okay!" Ash said cheerfully, but it was all a façade. He actually felt frustrated, angry and sad on the inside, but he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him right now.

He recalled his last conversation with N.

…

"You want me to run?" N looked confused.

"You don't have to give yourself up, but if you want me to live my own life, then I want you to live yours. Free," Ash said.

N stared at him before smiling. "I understand."

"This…is going to hurt me…" Ash frowned. "I don't know how I'm going to live without you, N…"

"You'll find the strength to move on, Ash. I'm sure you will."

The younger boy shook his head and stared hard into N's eyes. "N, I want you to make me a promise."

"Um," N tilted his head slightly. "What kind of promise?"

"Promise me that we'll meet again."

"W-what?" N gasped. "Ash, if we're going to do this, we have to do it with the intention of never meeting again!"

"N, it will be my motivation. The thought of me being able to see you again, no matter how far into the future that will be, will give me the strength to continue on."

"Ash…" N looked at Ash sadly. "You won't be able to move on?"

"N, I love you. You mean everything to me. I'm not just going to forget you. Just promise me…we'll meet again."

N watched as Ash brought out his hand with his pinky sticking out. He couldn't help but smirk and join his pinky with Ash's. "Sure. We'll surely meet again."

"Okay," Ash's smile was as bright as the sun.

"But…before you leave, Ash…"

"Yes, N?"

"Will you stay with me…one more night?"

"Of course, N."

…

Ash snapped back to reality when Elesa called his name.

"Ash? Are you okay?" the Electric-type Gym Leader asked.

"Yeah," Ash smiled weakly. "I'm just a little hungry. And cold."

"Oh! I'm sorry! Here," Elesa took off her jacket and placed it onto Ash. "We'll get you some new clothes, okay?"

"All right…" Ash walked with Elesa and his two Pokémon (Zorua choosing to join his team after N told the Dark-type to) and remembered the last thing N said to him when he left.

"I love you, Ash, and we'll definitely meet again."

"I love you, too, N…" Ash had said. "And I'll see you later."