Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Nintendo does, but thank goodness they allow us to write fanfics!

A/N: I'm glad for the feedback, and the correction of the name Ghetsis. Now that I've finished playing Pokemon Black, I realize what his true goal really was, so forgive me for my lack of knowledge.

A/N: I'd never read the manga, so White's personality might differ from this story's White. Since she never speaks, I've decided to create a personality that is somewhere between Bianca's and Cheren's.

A/N: The history between White's mother and Ghetsis is made up by me.

Chapter 2: We Meet Again

White's PoV.

"Hello, White," somebody said from behind me.

That deep, cool and calculating voice pierced my very soul. I'd heard it a lifetime ago (technically, it was three weeks ago, but I'd prefer to think of it a lifetime ago). Hairs on the nape of my neck prickling, I wheeled around to stare into the cold, emotionless eyes belonging to that bastard Ghetsis.

The way he spoke was as if he were merely discussing the weather with me, making me feel nauseated. Although he had a smile on his face, it was chilly, creepy. I knew that behind the mask (he wasn't that much of a looker), he was a monster with the blackest heart a human could possibly have. Ghetsis had neither kindness nor love within his questionable heart.

"Ghetsis," I greeted him coldly before whirling around to survey everybody packed within the small living room. "What do you want from me now? I am through with your evil masterminded schemes!" I clipped Simisear's Poke Ball to my belt, frowning so deeply my features may have been creased.

Ghetsis's smile became a smirk. "Why don't we move this discussion to a more fitting place, Trainer?" He looked past me to see a suspicious Cheren and an irate Bianca. "Battle me if you must, but only White poses a threat to me," he said, a firm warning radiating through his voice.

My mother weakly advanced towards Ghetsis and I. Though I had fixed Ghetsis with the most murderous stare ever seen by mankind, he was seemingly unfazed by my blatant fury. "White, don't listen to this hideous monster," my mom cautioned. "Please, don't fight him either."

I growled because I was about to pluck the Poke Ball containing a recently caught Tornadus – who had taken the place of my beloved Volcarona – as subtly as I could, although I had almost forgotten my mother had keen eyes. "Ghetsis is at large, Mother," I protested, "and how can we allow a criminal to barge into our household unwelcome?" I craned my neck to examine my mother carefully. "He and his followers must be arrested and brought to justice!"

Everybody murmured in agreement, save the Team Plasma members. They all three glowered at them, intent on tying our parents up again. However, I would not allow them to harm the ones I truly cared about ever again. "I know you fear for her safety," Cheren's mother began, "but all of our children have matured through their journey."

Ghetsis laughed. "You parents . . . so sentimental," he said with mock sympathy. He made a step forward, glaring at my mother. "You'd thwarted another organization long ago, although you were foolish to release your Pokemon afterward."

I looked from Ghetsis to my mother, wondering what was going on between them. "Leave my mother out of this," I demanded, gritting my teeth. "I want no harm to befall my loved ones, so take the Jewel of Unova and get out of this home! Then, I can foil your diabolical plans once and for all!" Impulsively, I reached for my Poke Ball, remembering how terrified of Ghetsis I truly was while battling him.

Ghetsis snapped his fingers, staring at his minions. "You heard the child. Let her loved ones be." Team Plasma rushed over to him, flanking each side of his portly frame, clothed with worn yet elegant windswept robes worthy of royalty. Somehow, refinement and regality tinged with darkness created the malicious aura around Ghetsis. "For your information, White, I have no intention of handing myself over to the authorities," he said, "but whether the other Sages are rounded up or not . . . it does not matter as long as I'm free."

"You monster!" Bianca's father cried. "How selfish, coldhearted and ruthless can you be? Where's your compassion?"

Ghetsis wheeled around, his eyes shining, as if he were enjoying a private joke with himself. "Feeling compassion for others is a sign of weakness, you old fool," he replied. "My original plan was destroyed by the Jewel of Unova, leaving me with another scheme." Seeing me perplexed, he continued, "Yes, White! You are the Jewel of Unova, which can be interpreted in so many ways."

"He means beauty," one Team Plasma member grunted. "His Majesty's ideal manifestation of beauty."

"No, you buffoon!" another one snapped. "Lord Ghetsis thinks the Jewel of Unova can lead us to another unknown species of a legendary Pokemon."

The leader of the trio glared at his teammates. "Somehow, I don't think either of your ideas fit the plan of our Lord," he told them harshly, "but as for my idea . . . I don't have one."

One Team Plasma member glowed red in the face. "Then why say none of ours fit, then?" he challenged his comrade. "You there! Do not move until Lord Ghetsis gives the okay!"

I fumed at the command that slimeball had issued Bianca. I heard her swearing nonstop, and then there was silence. "You lay one finger on my friend, then game on," I promised, reaching for a Poke Ball again. "Ghetsis, why bother tying up my mother when you could just as easily slip into my house and kidnap me?" I was wondering about Ghetsis's latest scheme and how I could halt the plan without anybody or any Pokemon getting hurt, or worse, liberated. But how come he was suddenly interested in liberating Pokemon? That was a front he had put up.

If there was one thing I had figured out about Ghetsis, he was able to manipulate others with well-thought arguments, convincing and mesmerizing. The scoundrel always had an alternative meaning behind his sentences, and was the most deceptive person I had ever encountered. The mere thought of such a criminal roaming about Unova was a crime within itself. He obviously had a scheme behind the liberation, but what was it?

"Game on, you say?" Ghetsis mused. "Respect your elders, because I know more than you, Pokemon Champion of Unova! Yes, I've heard the talk," he added quickly, seeing the flummoxed expression implanted upon my face. "I cannot believe such an ordinary Trainer could defeat the former King, myself and other Sages, the Elite Four and my plans! However, I must launch Plan B."

"Which is?" Bianca's mother demanded. "We want nothing more than peace, and to resume our lives with Pokemon. I feel no sympathy nor pity for you, because you obviously do not understand the true meaning of love."

Ghetsis gave a derisive snort. "My son – who will return – upheld my original idea toward the end when he battled White, ultimately losing to her. As well as his sense of direction." He looked at all of us, his face void of emotion. "Is love the reason why we confine Pokemon to their Poke Balls? Is love an excuse for the mistreatment of Pokemon? Or is love a way to justify the wrongful confinement of Pokemon?"

To my dismay, our parents – save my mother – seemed to be considering Ghetsis's words. "Don't believe it for one second," I urged them, scrunching my face. "He's the master of deception and he always has a plan within a plan. We need love in this world! Otherwise, it would be a sad place."

"White is right," Cheren piped up. "You may think you're benefiting from all of this, Ghetsis, but in the end, you would have nothing. Why do you think White so easily defeated you? She can easily do it once more. But she won't be alone this time," he vowed, "because Bianca and I will be traveling with her until we unearth your plan and bring you to justice!"

Ghetsis smirked. "You have the aura of an intelligent man, perhaps as intelligent as those expendable bothers who made up N's court – the other six Sages." He glared at me, his eyes aflame with knowledge. "Why bother having a pointless argument about our beliefs, for neither of us would agree. In this case, it would be foolish to agree in order to disagree."

I glowered at him, which made him chortle. "Go to hell," I said viciously.

Ghetsis clapped his hands, his eyes alight with triumph. Instantly, the trio of Team Plasma members conjured a length of rope. "I'll take you with me," he responded, "except not to hell!" He smirked, seeing me collapse on to the ground.

My mother screamed bloody murder. Looking up, I saw her trying to advance over to me, but Ghetsis had blocked her path. "Like mother, like daughter," he said, cocking his head. "If you want her back, my friend, then battle me yourself." As the Team Plasma members bound my hands with thick rope, I saw everybody was puzzled at his statement.

She stared at Ghetsis coldly. "You're not my friend anymore," she protested. "Our friendship died long ago when your way of thinking was warped. By the way, I did not release my friends." Her eyes were stormier than usual, her dark hair framing her face, twisted with fury. "You have thrown the gauntlet, and I shall answer it!"

I saw Bianca and Cheren sauntering over, wearing warlike expressions, both clutching Poke Balls in their hands. "What business do you have with White?" Bianca said, fear thick in her voice.

Ghetsis did not respond. Instead, he was staring down my mother. I found it difficult to move, much less squirm. There was a ripping sound. To my horror, I saw a Team Plasma member looming over me, waving a piece of duct tape. It did no good to scream, however much I wanted to.

I looked at the villain with pleading eyes, although he seemed unperturbed by his evilness. "We'll carry you back to where it all began," said the Team Plasma member brightly. "His Majesty would surely return because you serve as leverage, child."

I imagined Bianca and Cheren throwing their Poke Balls, making me feel powerless. Another Team Plasma member had produced a bottle of chloroform and held it to my nose.

All of a sudden, I felt groggy. I can't pass out! I thought weakly. But as much as I fought the sleepiness, I was eventually immersed in the blackness. I didn't know how much time would pass before I would reawaken. Or if my mother would save me.

N's PoV.

My eyes opened with wonder. I half-expected to be sprawled on the sands of the Whirl Islands, basking in the golden rays of the sun without sunblock, developing a tan. What a way of soul searching, I thought. Waving the currently unimportant thought aside, I felt rays of gold illuminating my body, except they weren't shafts of sunlight.

To my horror, I realized I was sheltered somewhere. What was weirder, my body was in a fetal position on a disturbingly familiar wiggly line fashioned out of white marble. I carefully uncurled myself from the awkward stance, bringing hand skyward in order to shield my eyes from the brightly lit room.

The walls were painted lurid green, a tall basketball backboard firmly attached to the wall. Ten feet below the stringed net was a basketball, immobile on the sepia brown half court, arched and symmetrical lines emblazoned on the court. I heard a whistling sound and I realized a steel train was whizzing down a railroad, the tracks different colors. It was then I realized where I was.

I was back at the castle bearing my name, meaning I had returned home against my will. Damn the Shadow Triad, I thought, wanting nothing more than to strangle each and every one of them by the neck. Unfortunately, they were faster than the wind. Maybe if I had that speed, I could outrun the inevitable. I wanted to start fresh, be someone new. If I chose somewhere to live, it would be where no one had ever heard of Team Plasma or the seriously misunderstood Natural Harmonia Gropius.

Why did I still use that surname? Ghetsis had disowned me by stripping me of the surname I was once proud to be born with. Was Ghetsis responsible for halting my journey through the world, searching for my purpose in life? Anyway, why was White in danger?

"Your Majesty, you've awakened." A mere Team Plasma member stood between the room and the corridor, eyeing me with complete reverence. "We've missed you terribly, especially our Lord Ghetsis."

At the mention of Ghetsis, my blood began boiling. "What does Ghetsis want from me?" I demanded, shaking with uncontrollable rage. "That bastard manipulated me into releasing Zekrom, wanting me to duel against a person he deemed to be unworthy of being the Hero of Truth."

The soldier curtsied before me, causing me to raise my eyebrows. "Lord Ghetsis realized it was wrong of him to use his own flesh and blood for his plan," she told me, "because he should've been the one to face White with Zekrom, not you. Unfortunately, his heart is impure whilst yours isn't."

I fluidly stood up, staring at my subordinate. Just seeing me made her blush to the roots of her hair. "Did he send you here so you can issue the apology?" I asked, able to see past the transparent lie. Therefore, I was unsurprised when the female nodded, darting her eyes toward the train set. "Do you feel a bond here or not?"

The grunt clasped her hands together before rising to her feet. "No, my King, I don't," she answered honestly. "Lord Ghetsis has taken over the organization in your absence, my liege. Although he does seek your forgiveness desperately and wants to fight alongside you in order to resume the liberation."

I started walking over to the basketball, snatching it from its resting place. "Ghetsis is but a liar, consumed by power." I released the basketball from my grasp, seeing it bounce upward. Deftly, I caught it. "I'm not about to be so easily fooled by a crooked soul ever again. I know either he's delivering a lie or is too proud to apologize to my face right this instant."

I wheeled around, dribbling the basketball for several moments before I took off into a run. "I don't see his scheme yet, but I intend to find out," I snarled. "Then I'll find out where Team Plasma's loyalties truly lie after facing off against Ghetsis. Some of you are loyal to me while others pledge their allegiance to Ghetsis." I jumped sky high, shooting the basketball out of my hands.

I wasn't having fun. In fact, I was trying to wrap my mind around this forceful return of mine. The Shadow Triad informed me that the girl I had taken an interest in – White – was in danger. Only one person would be malevolent and imbecile enough to abduct the Pokemon Champion without a fight. Ghetsis Harmonia.

Looking at the Team Plasma grunt, I demanded, "Where is Ghetsis?" I heard a SWISH behind me and I knew the ball went in.

She unclasped her hands, bowing her head down. "He's in the throne room," she confessed.

I wondered what devious plan he had, because if he were sitting on my throne . . . I didn't want to think about it. My heart pounding, I swerved around, sprinting past the Team Plasma grunt, who yelled, "King N, please don't inform Lord Ghetsis of my confession. I'm already on probation!"

As if I were going to betray her. Putting a stop to Ghetsis's nefarious plans was far more important than snitching someone out for something as trivial as defying an order. I zipped down the corridor, hearing my footsteps echoing, passing by limestone statues of legendary Pokemon poised on pillars crafted of the same stone. Every now and then, I passed open doors, seeing Team Plasma grunts and the Shadow Triad, who were berating a grunt. Apparently, he had put up the wrong portrait of Ghetsis.

I wanted to help, but Ghetsis had obviously sent the besotted grunt as a messenger. I climbed the wide stairs, my legs feeling like lead. Huffing and puffing at the long journey, I dimly wondered on how I was able to venture up toward my throne room – back when I'd faced White – without feeling exhausted.

I finally reached ground level and the topmost floor, where only one door remained open. Replicas of the statues were pressed against the wall a couple of feet away from me. To me, I felt as if they were there to intimidate the fainthearted, and protect the room where I had once ruled.

Now it was Ghetsis. Knowing the man, he would have a trick or two up his abnormally large sleeves. If there was a battle waiting to happen, I must be ready.

No Shadow Triad or loitering Team Plasma grunts. The entire corridor was barren of humans except for me. As I glided toward the spot where the corridors intersected, I wondered why Ghetsis had decided to have me to wake up in my room. Surely there was some reason – neither benevolent nor selfless – behind the mere gesture of kindness.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I made a sharp turn into the vast corridor where a magnificent deep blue carpet cloaked the linoleum. In a way, it resembled a lake, where a straight river protruded outward, carving its way through a cool gray-colored canyon in a sense. I examined the end of the spacious room, seeing the form of a man lounging in a simple golden throne, a gold diadem atop his head.

Ghetsis had robbed me of my valuables! My diadem was resting on his head and he sat leisurely in my throne, snaking his filthy hands around the arms of my throne. I was beyond enraged: I would fight for my throne, then leave Unova once more.

Slowly, I walked into the room, taking in the enormous gray pillars ascending and descending into darkness. "My son, welcome back!" Ghetsis cried. He had the nerve to slip off my throne and wear that fake welcoming smile. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

I started to shake, my face twisting with rage. Instead of sauntering over to him, I stormed over, swinging my fists back and forth. "I'm no son of yours, remember?" I told him frostily, hoping to melt that feigned fatherly countenance of his. He's planning something, I thought, wary. "In fact, I'm ashamed to call you Father, Ghetsis." It seemed that I couldn't close the distance between the traitor and me. That made me madder.

"I'd expected no welcome back," Ghetsis admitted, "but you're going to stay with me so we can liberate the Pokemon, do you understand?" His tone became cruel and harsh, as if he expected to be obeyed. When he saw me frozen to the spot, he remarked, "I can see the look of disgust in your eyes, N. You intend on leaving, am I correct?"

I nodded. "You can't boss me around," I informed him. "We're not family, as far as I'm concerned."

Ghetsis smiled dangerously. "I can control you, though," he told me. "I know your weakness, for it would be the only reason you would come back."

I bristled. "Your Shadow Triad had the liberty of tracking me down, ambushing me and one of them told me someone was in danger," I paraphrased. "They gave me no choice in the matter, but tell me this . . . is it true? Are you really sorry for the manipulation that happened three weeks ago?

"I personally believe you've failed me as a parent, so placing me in my room isn't going to restrengthen the bond between us since it has been shattered by your manipulation of me."

Suddenly, I felt the presence of someone behind me. "How dare you speak to Lord Ghetsis that way?" one of the Shadow Triad said angrily. "My Lord, what should we do with your son?"

Trembling, I looked at my father, a sinister expression on his face.

I wanted to believe there was humanity inside him, albeit I couldn't.

"Take him away until I decide what to do with him."

White's PoV.

DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

I opened my eyes, feeling droplets of water cascade down my face. I wondered if it was raining or not. But would it rain somewhere cloaked in the shadows? Or maybe it was a shower of some sort. Like even.

I tried to discern my surroundings, although I became aware of a sharp pang in my knees. I tried to bend forward, but I couldn't. A CHING noise rippled through the darkness, frightening me. It was then I realized I was manacled to something cold and hard. "A prison," I voiced out loud, "but where?"

I decided to test if I could move my feet.

To my satisfaction, I was able to. Having a sudden yet boneheaded idea, I brought my legs towards me, wincing at the throbbing in my knees. "Just a little more," I mumbled, wondering how come Ghetsis didn't completely confine me. Unless he had a plan yet to be unveiled. Does it have to do with my mother? I asked myself.

I knew Ghetsis wasn't my father. That much I can glean on. Otherwise, I would've felt a familial connection to that vile, deceitful man, whose most distinguished trait was his unrivaled ruthlessness. Ghetsis was the total opposite of N. But how did Ghetsis and my mother know each other? I knew my mother was a Pokemon Trainer at one point and had befriended my father, who was also a Pokemon Trainer. How did Ghetsis fit into the equation? What had happened between them?

I tried to shake my head, although I'd lost my footing on the walls, yelping. This appeared to be a dungeon and only castles had dungeons. That meant I was back in the castle where I'd battled N, the last time I'd seen him. Could it be possible that N had returned from his lengthy travels?

A BANG interrupted my train of thought. I felt a clear shaft of light bathe my face. Inadvertently, my eyes squinted from being in the gloom of the dungeon for so long. "You have a visitor," a voice boomed. "Now, behave, you two! And don't do anything rash or stupid."

Somebody was thrown into the room like a doll, roaring, "WHAT DID I DO?" The door slammed shut, the temporary shaft of light evanescent. "Is he lying about another person being trapped in here?" I could make out the physique of a slender boy, about sixteen, climbing on to his feet. "Who's there?"

I knew that voice.

"Hey, N," I greeted him.

As N swerved around, I noticed he had the same disheveled, spiky tea green hair, the same vivid green eyes.

For some reason, my heart started to skip, missing several beats.

"White," N acknowledged.

A/N: My chapter is finished. Read and Review! I'd appreciate feedback. I know N is behaving differently than usual, but he has his reasons. He'll be the N we know soon enough, so bear with me.

This chapter has been edited without affecting the plot. This was done in order to promote the sequel of History; Eventide.

Edited on: 11/01/15