Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Nintendo does. I wish I did, though.

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N's PoV.

Bricks flew down at breakneck speed, creating a lot of noise. Anxiously, I turned around, straining my ears in order to hear footsteps. What a lot of noise! If we made a lot of noise, then that must mean White was free at last.

I directed my gaze at White, who descended downward, befuddled at what had just happened. Was it sheer luck or was it perhaps a miracle? I had seen too much to believe in coincidences, although I wouldn't say no to luck or miracles.

The manacles had left lava red impressions encircling White's forearms. Hearing a faint CHINK sound, I glimpsed the manacles had loosened, thus enabling White to shake off the manacles.

In spite of myself, I smiled. "Congratulations," I said warmly.

Since the brunette was free, now she had to free me. I wanted to feel the sensation of freedom, and be able to utilize my body once more. After all, I didn't deserve to be tortured like this. White didn't deserve to be tortured like this.

I couldn't help but wonder if White was really in danger or not. Could all of this be a set-up? Or was it half-truth? I hated being this way, embittered, mistrustful, and brooding and having a dark side. It was for that very reason I set Zekrom free. Why should it follow someone whose heart was plunged in darkness?

I felt a twinge of guilt while thinking of Zekrom, because I was selfish for letting the Pokemon representing Idealism back into the wild, since it chose me. It probably hated me for the sudden abandonment.

I cast the repetitive thought away from my mind. What's done is done, I thought sadly.

Intent on capturing White's attention, I moved my arrested hands up and down, the links clashing against each other. When she didn't glance my way, I said, "Your forearms are red."

White inclined her head down, staring at the marks with horror.

"Now, it's my turn to be freed," I went on. It would be inconsiderate of her to leave me like this, I said to myself, examining the ghost of White's tears splashed across her face.

She nodded at my words, wiping the tears away with her gloved hands. Quickly, she wheeled around, looking at the bricks, piled on top of one another. White examined the ruins for a moment before snatching a random brick propped against the bottommost brick, mortar still attached to the respective bricks.

It must've been heavy for White, for she stumbled a little, her expression strained. Her ocean blue jewels were uncertain about the thoughtless scheme she had in mind.

"I don't know if I can properly use this brick without hurting you, I or both of us," she admitted, her voice just as strained as her expression.

While she was trying to maintain a firm grip on the brick she'd selected – covered with cracks – she told me, "By the way, I didn't mean to argue with you."

She wanted an apology, albeit I was unsure about giving or receiving one. I knew I was the one who started the verbal conflict, so why did White feel obliged to give an apology?

I glanced at her. "Just free me," I begged her, noticing her countenance becoming crestfallen.

White appeared to be triumphant, for she'd finally managed to lace her fingers around the rectangular brick, its surface slathered with mortar seeping into the thin fractures that had developed when White had accidentally uncovered the seemingly impregnable dungeon's secret passageway.

She looked at me.

I returned the gesture.

"Do you trust me?" said White meekly.

Out of all the things I expected White to say, that question wasn't what I had in mind. The problem was, I didn't know whether I could trust her or not. Right now, I only trusted her to sever the chain connecting one handcuff to another.

With a straight face, I said, "I do."

White wasn't convinced, because she searched my face, as if hoping to detect a lie. When she probed my eyes, her face softened. "Are you ready?" There was an edge to her voice, meaning she was very impatient.

I stared at her with what was hopefully a firm look. "Yes."

She started to exhale and inhale, seemingly nervous. Scared even.

Is this really the best idea? I wondered, petrified. Inadvertently, I shut my eyelids, putting my faith in White. I had to trust her at the present time.

I heard a SWISH rippling through the stagnant air, and opened my eyes despite being horrified: White was hurling the brick toward the chains, her eyes shut due to fear.

Adrenaline started to course through my veins, my heart beating faster. The descent of the brick was aiming straight and true toward the chain. Speedily, I widened the distance between my hands, hoping the timing was right.

Chapter 4: Direction

N's PoV.

CRACK! I had timed it just right, for the linked chain had severed completely from the handcuffs, which was the good news. The bad news was: I needed either a lock pick or that key the Shadow Trio member had in his possession. What was also on my list was retrieving White's and my Pokemon before Ghetsis decided to liberate them. The number one objective was to find out what Ghetsis was really up to.

Calmly, I surveyed White, her body shaking. "Did I hurt you?" she said, on the verge of tears. "The last thing I want on my conscience is me knowing I've fractured a bone in your body." Her eyes were shut forcefully.

I didn't know how to thank her. Maybe if . . . I pried the brick from her hands, sending it plummeting toward the ground, another plume of dust rising upward. "It's okay, White," I said soothingly. "I'm okay, although I had expected for you to make a mistake, such as breaking my hand or something."

I knew I had said the wrong thing: White opened her eyes, hissing. "Is this your way of saying thank you?" she asked, furious. "I could've left you behind, you know!" The brunette gave me the evil glare, which made me recoil. "Unfortunately, I'm too kind for my own good."

"White . . . ," I said, attempting to calm her down.

She did a pirouette, her dark brown hair fanning out behind her. As it slapped my face, I caught a whiff of it. Inadvertently, I breathed in the scent, recognizing it to be lavender.

White stormed off, her nose in the air. "You're the most ungrateful teenager I've ever met!" she said heatedly. "Why you're the head of a crime syndicate, I do not know!"

I didn't expect for this to happen. Whenever I thought of White, I thought of her gentleness and purity. In other words, she had the most beautiful soul I have ever seen. But now . . . I saw a whole different side to her.

The others might come down and check up on us. If White had escaped, then she might suffer dire consequences. Whether I liked it or not, I had no choice but to entertain the thought of following her. Besides, neither of us knew where our destination was anyway.

I stepped afoot in yet another manmade cave, save it had bone white torches fastened to plaques embedded into the bone white-colored bricked walls. Surprisingly, the torches were lit, the flames dancing merrily about in the brackets. Several feet ahead, White was immobile, taking in her surroundings.

"Are you coming or not?" she asked me, stomping her foot onto the marbled floor, draped with an electric blue carpet. When I didn't answer, White placed her hands on her hips. "I'm not leaving until you guide me out of here. I also want to go home, if you don't mind."

Sensing the anger radiating from White, I decided not to keep her waiting. On the other hand, I felt as if this passageway had been used recently. It was for that reason I felt hesitant. "Why are you angry for, anyway?" I asked her, failing to grasp what I could've possibly done to deserve her wrath.

White frowned, tapping her foot at the speed of light. "Use your brain, N," she told me, her ocean blue eyes flashing. "You're the King, so guide me through this elegant hallway if you may."

I decided to advance forward, because I could find out what mystery this corridor had to hide later. All that mattered was getting White to safety. I broke into a run, not bothering to examine the contents of this corridor. Somehow, I knew it was special. But will White agree with me? I wondered.

White seemed relieved when I skidded to a halt in front of her. For a moment, I swore her countenance softened, except it was gone, replaced by a menacing look. "Boys," she murmured. "Is it just me or does this passageway feel . . . inhabited?" White gazed at me, an expectant look in her expressive eyes.

I couldn't help myself. "Nah, it's just you," I teased, seeing White bristle. "Don't you have a sense of humor or what?"

White jutted her chin, her eyes as stormy as a hurricane. "I don't have N sense of humor," she retorted. White fixated that penetrating gaze of hers onto my face, thus me feel uneasy. "So, do you or not?" She took her hands off her hips.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I never understood humans, I thought. I could never identify with them, so I was mistaken about White. Right now, she's behaving just like any other woman I've seen when they're enraged. "So, does this mean you're not mad anymore?" I asked, the question burning inside of me.

I sauntered over to White, grasping her by the shoulder. "To be honest, I've never known secret passageways were underneath my castle. So if we get lost, at least you know that was not my intention."

White stared at me for a moment, pokerfaced. Then, she violently shook my hand off her shoulder, taking me aback. "Let me clarify our relationship with each other, N," she said carefully, "other than being rivals, we're on the verge of being acquaintances and friends. Don't mistake it for anything else, okay?"

I pondered this for a moment, cupping my chin. "Why would I mistake it for anything else?" I was thunderstruck, trying to wrap my mind around what the meaning of White's words were. "In case you've forgotten, I'm not exactly fit for human life." Watching White take off, I chased after her, not wanting to be in this corridor any longer.

When I caught up to White, I flanked her right side.

The brunette gave no indication as to whether she heard my approach or not. Instead, she appeared to be in deep thought, furrowing her eyebrows. But at least she was maneuvering in the right direction. Should I snap her out of it or not? The idea was tempting, albeit White was probably thinking about something rather significant.

That had to be it.

White's PoV.

I was giving N the silent treatment, which I shouldn't have been. The teen wasn't anything like Cheren at all, yet N was intelligent in a way Cheren wasn't. Knowing Cheren for a long time, I knew the quirks and the pet peeves I had regarding him.

N was a whole different ball game.

I'd met several teenagers throughout my long, grueling journey to become Pokemon Champion at long last. I'd spent almost six days training my Pokemon after I seemingly brought Team Plasma down, N and Ghetsis along with them. Now, I've discovered three weeks later that I'd failed at bringing down the criminal organization.

I wondered if Bianca and Cheren were searching for me along with all of the Gym Leaders. N's Castle would be where I was located. Will they use Fly or travel across Unova, rounding up the Gym Leaders? I mulled over this, because that had happened once. So it could just as easily happen again.

I heard the shuffling of footsteps, bringing me out of my thoughts.

N was next to me, staring at me, puzzled.

I tried to tune him out, because I was sort of upset with him. I'd apologized for our bickering episode, except he said nothing. Now that I thought about it . . . N was responsible for arousing the cantankerous side of me, lurking beneath the surface. Or was it my observation of Ghetsis that made N fly off the handle?

What was wrong with N anyways? About three weeks ago, he was cheery, innocent and inventive. He was the epitome of purity, yet he was sort of naïve, never realizing he was but a mere puppet in Ghetsis's ultimate plan. In fact, even I didn't expect Ghetsis to pull a stunt off like that.

Twenty-one days had gone by, and N was almost the antithesis to his former self. N was darker in disposition, although I did see a mere trace of the original purity buried deep within his heart surface back at the dungeon.

Now N was inconsiderate, hotheaded, bitter, emotionally detached and brooding. I did see he hated himself, and easily ridden with guilt. Ghetsis, I realized. The realization made me hate the man even more.

I heaved a deep sigh, making N start. "It's no use being mad at you, N," I told him, smiling. "I know of your plight, and -"

N fixed me with a cold stare. "As I said before, you would never be able to understand me!" His green eyes flashed with malice, intending to intimidate me. "Maybe you have known me once upon a time, but the N you'd once known . . . he won't be returning." Judging from his attitude, he didn't accept my apology.

"He actually did back at the dungeon," I pointed out. "I'm not an idiot, N." I looked around, seeing nothing but the flames from the torches casting shadows over us. The warmth of the flames coursed through me, although I've never felt so cold and helpless when I was warm.

N glared at me pointedly. "I never said you were, White," he said indifferently. "Why do you pretend as if you understand me?" He folded his hands behind his back.

Another change in his personality, I noted mentally. Now emotionally unstable is on the list referring to Dark N. However, there is humanity inside N. Unlike Ghetsis, he's no monster.

I swept back a stray bang plastered to my forehead in order to better survey the boy. "I understand you better than you think, N," I responded calmly, expecting a sneer from my nemesis. "I mean, is it really better to seclude yourself from mankind? People may want to know you better, and forgive you for your crimes." I smiled at him. "I'm one of those people."

N tore his eyes off me, his eyebrows knitting into one. "This corridor is so long."

I ground my teeth, frustrated N had deliberately changed the subject. He shouldn't be like this, I thought grimly, but what can I do? I'm probably forcing him to open up, and vice versa. In this instance, maybe there was no fault for a fault.

Right now, N and I weren't seeing eye-to-eye, though at least I could agree with him on one subject: The corridor was too long.

For some strange reason, I had this feeling the corridor was not only leading into another part of the castle, but steering both N and I into an unexpected and life-changing direction.

N's PoV.

I knew I shouldn't have snapped at White. All she was trying to do was sympathize with my plight, which I didn't want to burden her with. I had to consider the possibility the less she knew, the better off she would be. Otherwise, Ghetsis would use her for actual leverage.

But how could I tell her the reason I was acting this way was not by choice, but by being a victim of circumstance? I was deeply hurt and heartbroken at Ghetsis's betrayal, yet White had a point: There was no humanity left in Ghetsis. In fact, I don't think I'd ever seen a trace of humanity inside Ghetsis. Ever.

Although there was one subject I was more than willing to discuss with White.

"Ummm . . . I released Zekrom back into the wild," I blurted out.

I was unsurprised when White darted her eyes in my direction, the ocean blue jewels alight with disapproval and shock. Seeing her eyes made me feel guilty, ashamed. I unfolded my hands behind my back, waiting for her to criticize my selfish actions.

White regarded me. "Although Ghetsis manipulated you into retrieving the Dark Stone in the ruins of Relic Castle, the Dark Stone responded to you, N! You were the Hero representing Idealism, the one Zekrom deemed worthy. Surely that would mean something to you." I knew she was extremely displeased with my choice, although I decided to be free of Zekrom shortly after White had defeated me.

I couldn't bear taking Zekrom with me, because I knew every time I would stare at it, the pain I buried so deep within my heart would claw its way up to the surface, ripping the emotional scars Ghetsis dealt me open once more. "I have my reasons why it should roam Unova, free of being connected to anyone whatsoever," I replied back, trying my utmost to keep the guilt leaking into my voice.

All of a sudden, the river of electric blue stopped being straight, flowing upward into darkness. If the carpet was flowing unevenly, then that meant stairs leading into the castle were several feet away from us. "White, don't criticize my decision," I told her sternly. "Zekrom's better off, free of responsibility."

White balled her hand into a fist, lowering it over her heart. "Reshiram acknowledged me as worthy of its power . . . because I was one of the Heroes, the Hero of Truth. After many battles, Reshiram has warmed up to me, like my other Pokemon. You, the Hero of Ideals, must find Zekrom, since it chose you, regardless of the circumstances you were in."

I bowed my head down, my mane of tea green hair shielding my face. Lowering one foot over the bottommost stair, I unthinkingly responded, "Why won't you capture Zekrom yourself, White?" Zekrom could recognize her as the Hero of Ideals and Truth along with Reshiram. Besides, it was better that way.

I leaped onto the second stair gracefully, smiling. Behind me, I heard White climb the first step. "Let's go," I told her.

Without waiting for a response, I went up the stairway, aware of the light starting to die away behind us. All that laid ahead was darkness. Darkness gives birth to light, and vice versa, I thought, thinking of Zekrom and Reshiram, deities in their own right. One representing Light and Truth while its counterpart represented Darkness and Idealism. Yin and Yang.

As I ventured deeper into the darkness, I hit my head for the third time today. "White, careful," I warned, picking up the scent of lavender once more. God, it was driving me crazy.

White snorted. "I knew you cared," she said, sarcasm thick in her voice. "And to think you had no heart, like Ghetsis."

My hands balled up into fists at White's unnecessary comparison of me to Ghetsis. "I am nothing like Ghetsis," I informed her firmly, bending my knees on to the second-to-last stair.

I scowled. "We broke out of the dungeon, just to find ourselves trapped."

White gave a hearty chuckle. "There's always something, N." Her tone of voice sounded all-knowing, on the verge of being arrogant. "Like a trapdoor, maybe," she suggested. "I'll look -"

Without looking back, I said, "I'm higher up, so let me check. If someone is waiting at the other end, then at least I know you're safe." Behind me, I heard White sniffle.

"Why are you treating me as if I am a damsel-in-distress?" she wondered. "For heaven's sake, I am the Pokemon Champion of Unova -"

"Who doesn't have her Pokemon with her," I said under my breath, deliberately allowing White to hear me. I smirked at the mere thought of her fuming. Good enough for me, I thought smugly.

"Look who's talking!" White shouted at me. "As a matter of fact, I take my apology back!"

I frowned. "I haven't accepted it yet, so it's still pending," I told her quietly. "I'm not the same N anymore, White." I raised my hands high into the air, probing the ceiling to check whether there was a trapdoor or not. "I've changed a lot throughout the past three weeks, beyond recognition."

"I can see that," White remarked, "but the real N is down there somewhere."

I was grateful when my hands caressed an arch of some sort. I deduced it was fashioned out of steel, because of how firm and cold it felt to the touch, not to mention smooth. "White, I've found our exit," I said, delighted with myself.

White mumbled something about me having a multiple personality disorder, which kind of amused me. "What was that?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. For some reason, I enjoy teasing her, I noted, wondering how White was able to bring out all aspects of my personality. Except I would never tell her that.

"Nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing to me," I insisted.

"Forget it," said White.

"Okay," I conceded, wrapping my fingers around the bulky ring. I pulled the ring toward me, examining the fluid swaying it created. "It seems like it works." I heard the sound of footsteps, accompanied by that seductive aroma. "I'm going to go first, in case the Shadow Triad are lurking nearby," I told her.

"Why are they trying to liberate the Pokemon again?" White asked me.

I whirled around, staring into her ocean blue eyes, wild-eyed. "I don't know," I admitted, "but I promise I'm not involved in any of this. Never again would I make the mistake of liberating Pokemon without seeing another person's point of view." White was right about me being narrow and close-minded. However, she also had the ability to open my mind to new possibilities, which was uncommon in my world.

"Why do you want Ghetsis back?" she pressed me, just as I was beginning to swing the trapdoor open. "He betrayed you, and deep down, you know he's not going to change."

I froze. "That's where you're wrong," I stubbornly replied. "Evil or not, love conquers all in the end. He's still my father, even though I hate to admit it."

I refused to see White's perception of Ghetsis, even though it was true. But it was also true everyone was capable of changing. White was able to make me see the world through another's eyes for once. If she could touch my soul, perhaps I could bring my father back to the side of good.

I slowly swung the trapdoor open. "I don't see anyone in sight, White." In case I was wrong, I double-checked. Seeing the room was barren, I climbed onto the linoleum floor, still having my hand curled around the ring. "Climb up, before someone sees us."

"Don't boss me around." A moment later, White came to the surface, looking disgruntled. "Is it just me or was escaping the dungeon too easy?"

I was thinking the same thing. Obviously, Ghetsis wanted us to escape, since it had to be part of his ultimate plan. The problem was . . . what did he have in mind?

I held out my hand for White to take, but not before feeling the familiar magnetic draw, stronger than ever. From her voice to her eyes, it always struck a chord in my heart. I didn't notice the suspicion etched on her face, being mesmerized by the connection words cannot describe. Nor did I feel her gloved hand slipping into mine.

"N, pull me up already," White said, her voice snapping me back into reality. "What happened?"

As I heaved her up on to the linoleum floor, I flushed. "I don't know," I said truthfully. "I truly don't know what's happening to me." I averted my eyes, hoping not to fall under the spell White always put on me, unbeknownst to her.

"Ummm . . . this is where we battled, isn't it?" White's voice was apprehensive.

I ripped my hand away from hers, lowering the trapdoor back into place. Looking around me, I found myself admiring White's perception for the umpteenth time.

"This is bad," I said, feeling a sense of dread wash over me.

All of a sudden, I heard White shriek.

I twirled around, expecting to see the Shadow Triad, or worse, Ghetsis. Instead, White was pointing one of her fingers in the same direction I was facing several seconds ago.

Immediately, I rushed over to White's side, seeing the shocked expression on her face. "White, what's going on?" I said, panic surging through my voice. "Answer me!" I took hold of her shoulders, boring my eyes into hers.

White climbed on to her feet, her face still wearing that same expression. Unthinkingly, I shielded her with my body. Somehow, I was driven with the desire to protect her, even though I couldn't defend myself without a Pokemon.

I wheeled around, expecting to see Ghetsis on the throne, save it was empty.

Instead, I saw something cloaked within the shadows of the throne room, its shadow looming over White and me.

"No way," White and I said in unison.

I stepped forward, although White tugged me by the sleeve. "I don't . . ."

White must've seen the expression on my face, for she promptly let go of my sleeve.

"I have to do this," I explained to her, "because I can't keep on running away from my past. No matter what I do, I won't be able to fix what happened." I stared at White, whose ocean blue eyes were widened with fear. "Stay out of sight, because this may be a trap."

White nodded to show she understood.

"Go for it."

A/N: Wow, I've finished another chapter. Well, Read and Review! I'd also love some feedback. There's also a poll up until further notice, so cast your votes while you can, please.

This chapter has been changed without affecting the plot. Therefore, it is now edited. The reason is to promote Eventide, the sequel of History.

Edited On: 11/01/15