Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Nintendo does –pouts-

A/N: Once again, I thank everyone for their reviews and feedback, and being the greedy person I am, I'm more than happy to take some more.

A/N: I didn't expect for a lot of people to like this, and just knowing that makes me want to complete this story.

A/N: I made a blunder yesterday with the poll. Now that I've corrected it, you can cast your votes if you want. Remember, it's up for a limited amount of time. So hurry –says it like the voiceover during a commercial - :D

White's PoV.

Fresh air at last, I thought. The lighting in the throne room basked me in its faint rays. For once I felt breathing fresh air was a luxury, because there was no way I was going to be inhaling musty air ever again.

N drew his hand – void of calluses – away from mine.

I wondered why my heart sank at that. Maybe I just enjoyed the warmth flowing from his palms. But at the same time, I was repulsed at N grasping my hand.

When I bent down on my knees, I examined N. His tea green tendrils were pulled into a ponytail that cascaded down his back in a wild, sexy way. Snap out of it, I told myself, averting my gaze.

An enormous silhouette materialized out of the shadows, seemingly hunkered against one of the columns.

I let loose a scream.

N broke out of his reverie and turned around. "White, what's going on?" he demanded to know.

I pointed my finger at the shadow, doing my best not to give into the shock and spookiness injected into my very heart.

Just as I was regaining my footing, N sprinted towards me, his tea green hair flying behind him. When he came to me, N grasped my shoulders. "Answer me!"

I brought my arm higher, so that N could properly view my pointing finger. What I didn't expect N to do was wheel around and use his body to shield me.

As silently as I could, I inched to the left of N. I would bet an entire Rich Boy's fortune that N expected for Ghetsis to be seated on the throne N viewed as rightfully his.

As I strained my eyes to take a closer look at the silhouette, it started to move towards us, its footsteps resonating through the throne room. "No way," I said, arrested with shock. On whim, I grasped his seashell white sleeve gently.

I could've sworn N said the same words in unison with me.

N started to advance forwards, newfound determination etched on his face.

N turned around to glance at me. "I don't . . ." He was struggling with his words. That left me to wonder what he wanted to say.

He took advantage of my hesitation, ripping his sleeve free from my hand.

As the King of Team Plasma sauntered forwards, he told me, "I can't keep running from my past. White. But no matter what I do next, I can't undo the past."

Unconsciously, I positioned the palm of my hand between the valley of my breasts, truly concerned for N. Maybe N isn't as bad as I thought. But I still have a jaded opinion of him.

"This may be a trap," he warned me. "Stay out of sight."

All I could do was nod. "Go for it," I said weakly.

Chapter 5: A Blast from the Past

White's PoV.

"I know you have no Pokemon," I said carefully before digging into my denim short shorts, fishing out a Poke Ball and an Ultra Ball respectively.

N opened his mouth, shocked. "How come you didn't tell me you had Pokemon with you? Our escape would've been a lot less painful if you used the Pokemon you had."

I laughed. "Didn't you tell me once humans always use Pokemon as their tools?" I reminded him

N gestured for the Poke Balls, even going as far as nabbing them from my hand. "I don't have time to be discussing the past right now," he told me bossily. "What Pokemon do you have at your disposal?"

I scowled. "The way N Harmonia would say it is, 'What Pokemon do you have with you?'" I mimicked his voice perfectly, earning a sneer from N. "The Pokemon I have with me are Samurott, and believe it or not," I paused for dramatic effect. "Reshiram."

N stared at me with admiration. "Tell me how you deceived the Shadow Triad, White."

"Ever since you and Team Plasma had been issuing nonsense about liberation, I was frightened that my Pokemon would be taken away from me against my will." I fixed N with a frosty stare. "So, I decided to carry a few Poke Balls with me in case I ever ran into Team Plasma."

N wheeled around. "That's amazing, ingenious and devious," he admitted grudgingly. "Maybe it wasn't my followers who made those costly mistakes. You outsmarted them not only once. Not only twice. Not only thrice. You've done it countless times."

I wasn't sure whether he was complimenting me or not. Right now, it seemed N had alternate meanings behind his carefully chosen words. Whether it had to do with his emotional pain or his personality, it bothered me either way. "So I'm not going to be a damsel-in-distress, all right?"

N said nothing for a while, examining the silhouette parading over to us, making the linoleum floor slightly wobble. "White, put the Poke Balls away," he said finally, adopting his usual demanding voice.

I ground my teeth, narrowing my eyes. "Stop bossing me around, Your Majesty," I said, a testy lullaby ringing through my silvery voice. I couldn't help but grin from ear-to-ear at N's response.

"Call me N," he said coldly, his hands balling into fists. "Get over here, White." When I didn't move, N warned, "Or I'll drag you over here myself."

Not wanting N to manhandle me, I went over to him. "No matter how moody you are, I know that the real N still exists," I said confidently. "But I won't tolerate your attitude."

N grabbed hold of my hand, which made me nervous. "We have to make a leap of faith, White," he told me, motioning at the sunny river in front of us, clouds moving at the speed of a snail. "If I recall correctly, the distance is easily closed by anyone who leaps across -"

I scowled, impatient at N's pensiveness. The boy had a multiple personality disorder, or maybe he was the man of a thousand faces. Was it possible Ghetsis's betrayal left N more than heartbroken and devastated? Was N traumatized? I had to consider all sides of the issue, because I had a compulsion to restore N to his former self, no matter what.

There was another deafening stomp, growling rippling from the enormous shadow looming over us. Though N's scheme was rather dangerous and faulty, I had to trust his judgment for once. As I laced my fingers through his, I noticed N blushing. "I'm ready, N," I said firmly.

N looked at me, calm and collected. "I swear I won't let anything happen to you," he promised, "because your future is bright while mine is dark and filled with the unknown."

Unintentionally, I squeezed his hand for reassurance. "Let's do it."

N's PoV.

The shadow made another step, as loud as thunder. I remembered those steps, which I had hoped to never hear ever again. I tried to keep myself descending into my memories by gazing upon Snow White. White, I corrected myself.

The brunette's eyes were shut, her face void of emotion, but she was moving her lips.

"Let's do it," I agreed, seeing White open her eyes, with a stare as sharp as the tip of a finely crafted arrowhead.

I bent down, swinging our arms once. Then twice. And finally, thrice. Confident I was able to leap to the other side, I stepped on to the narrow ledge, staring at the silhouette emerging out of the shadows while hearing White murmuring something like, "I'm not gonna fall. I'm not gonna fall."

"You won't." I kicked off the ledge, ascending high into the air, White clasping onto my hand tighter than before. Feeling the artificial wind our bodies made rustled my hair, thus making it untidier than before.

The wonderful feeling ceased as I landed on the lower ledge, adrenaline pumping through my system. "White, you all right?" I let go of her hand, examining her to see if she was okay.

She glared at me, saying curtly, "I just had a minor dizzying spell, that's all."

I smirked. "Prove it," I invited, stepping a few steps backward.

White was clutching the stitch in her chest, looking lightheaded. "I feel as if I'm gonna faint."

"So princess-like," I replied, earning a death glare from her.

"I'm not a princess, namely yours," she snapped, outraged at my lighthearted remark. "Here I am, stuck with somebody I like yet dislike at the same time." Despite her condition, White rose to her feet. "I don't know why I'm acting this way around you, N."

I didn't know how to respond.

The tense moment was interrupted by the violent shaking of the throne room. Swiveling around, I directed my eyes at the now-visible Pokemon. "White, now would be a good time for a battle," I told her calmly.

"Can't you read Pokemon like a book?" she said quietly, none of the malice present in her voice. "You dislike harming or imprisoning Pokemon, if I recall." White came over, flanking my left side.

I felt an unexplainable sense of security and hope with White at my side. "You're right, White," I agreed, "but times change." Hearing the familiar roar again, I directed my gaze toward the source.

My pocket, already weighed down with empty Poke Balls, felt heavier. Also, my stomach gave a troubled lurch, my heart tightening in my chest. Sweat developed on my hands and forehead. I couldn't move, for my legs felt like lead. Worst of all, my brain was waterlogged.

The Pokemon vaulted through the sky, doing an aerial figure eight before descending to the floor in front of my throne.

It was a bipedal dragon, the skin a few shades grayer than the ledges framing the dais supporting my throne. Random portions of its body were darker than night. The irises were as white as snow, the sclera blood red. Protruding out of its pointed snout was a tiny horn. The crown of its head sported a windswept plume, edged with color a few shades lighter than the sky.

As my eyes explored its physique, I was unsurprised to see the studded base of its neck perfectly intact, the studs the precise color of the various patches decorating its body. The studded part corresponded with its armored shoulders, although it was slightly different and larger. As the dragon stretched its wings wide open, moving its head about wildly, I noticed the bases were heavily padded, somewhat fanned and splayed. The bases appeared to have a transparent webbed surface, each side respectively edged with a pointed appendage at the bottom.

I observed the muscular arms, the lower portion morphing into a webbed, splayed and distorted formation, its hands almost a blackish hue, both sporting three wicked-looking claws on the underside. I knew its waist was the same hue as the hands, but the belly and thighs had narrow lines tracing their entire length. Its knees - buckled at the moment - were also black, just like the front of its clawed feet and pointed heels.

It emitted a roar - ancient yet powerful - swishing its immense, conical, round tail, heavily spiked, reminiscent of a generator found in power plants, but the back was slate black, just like the bands tipping the outer surface of the tail.

Immediately, I marched over to White's side, the old feelings of fright stirring up my insides, followed suit by the backlash of pain. "Zekrom," both of us said at the same time.

White gazed at me, her ocean blue orbs unreadable. "We need to find out what it wants first," she said shortly, flashing me a sincere smile. "That's where you come in, Hero of Ideals."

I bowed my head down, regaining composure. "You're putting too much faith in me," I muttered. "I abandoned Zekrom for selfish reasons." I felt a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder, belonging to White. "White, you were born heroic, not me."

White made an indistinguishable noise. "You have redeemable qualities," she assured me. "Don't say this to anybody, N." She smiled at me, and I had the distinct impression she wanted to trust me with something.

"I never had anyone tell me a secret about themselves before," I admitted, flattered.

Zekrom ceased the noise, glaring down at both White and me. I knew it didn't want to attack me, although I sensed a deep sense of loneliness and yearning for belonging in Zekrom's heart. "Don't you hate me?" I asked it, guilt thick in my voice. "White, go on and purge."

"I was an ordinary teenager from Nuvema Town, possessing an insane amount of bravery and a strong sense of justice," she began, "but then I ran into Team Plasma and you. All of a sudden, I felt compelled to defeat all of you, because what your squad was doing was anything but moralistic.

"On the other hand, you stood out. When you offered to take me on a ride on the Ferris wheel, and confessed you were the King of Team Plasma, it didn't make any sense. I knew one of the Seven Sages was using you as a mere puppet, although I didn't know which one.

"I did consider the fact you were somebody else behind the mask, but I had no proof. Because you sided with Team Plasma, I detested you, but I saw good in your heart, too."

My eyes were glued to Zekrom's, lazily waving its tail with no sense of direction. "When did you suspect Ghetsis?" I asked, turning my neck around to see those eyes of hers, so expressive and luminous. All of a sudden, I heard a growl rippling from Zekrom.

White's face darkened. "After Cheren and I hunted down one of the Sages and his protectors, we had them arrested. Then, Ghetsis appeared, convincing Clay to release the others. I noticed the penetrating stare, seeing nothing but holes colored red. No emotion whatsoever."

I didn't know whether to be angry at White or not. However, if she'd told me her suspicions, I would've tuned her out, because her way of thinking was different than mine. "Zekrom wants my full attention," I said, "but this is my second time facing it."

White grimaced. "I have one last thing to say: Whenever I look at you . . . you seem alone."

I turned around, smirking. "I want to be alone," I lied brutally, "because it's better that way. I don't have to depend on anyone, because at least they won't let me down." I took a deep breath, realizing I was pouring my darkest thoughts to White. "Pokemon, on the other hand, won't let anyone down."

I sauntered over to Zekrom, although I heard sobbing coming from White. "Hello, Zekrom," I said calmly, staring deep into its snowy white irises.

Zekrom roared, although it sounded as if it were sad. "Why don't you hate me?" I repeated. "You chose the wrong Hero of Ideals, Zekrom. If anyone deserves you, it's White." I motioned toward a sobbing White, feeling a trace of guilt inside my heart.

A snort came from the Pokemon's snout, meaning it disagreed with my statement. "What do I have to offer you? I let you down in the end," I moaned, feeling the stubbornness emitting from Zekrom. "All Pokemon are created equal, yet none of them are good or evil. It depends on the Trainer." I glanced at Zekrom, who was drinking in my words, interested in what I had to say.

"Zekrom, the N who you thought was the manifestation of Idealism . . . he's not coming back," I went on, "but you're chasing the same impossible goal as White is." I tilted my head up, water tracing the bottom of my eyelid, clinging to my lower eyelash. "You should fly back to where I found you - where we met - and that is Dragonspiral Tower, Zekrom."

Begging Zekrom to leave was no use. Maybe White was right about me being the Hero of Ideals. On the contrary, I still believed there could be only one Hero. That Hero would bring light to the shadows and balance Idealism and Truth. I mistakenly believed that I would be the Hero, thinking Zekrom would secure my position as the ultimate Pokemon Master, and help me be the Sovereign and Messiah of Unova.

"Please leave," I pleaded, seeing Zekrom shake its head. "What is it with you and White? You two believe I'm destined to be with you, Hero or not. This fact I cannot handle." I kneeled down, holding my hands to my head, the darkness stemming from my broken heart threatening to engulf me.

White's PoV.

"N!" I yelled, running over to him.

I heard Zekrom's growl rumble in his chest. Looking upward, I said, "You forgave N for his actions, and so did I." I hovered over N, bending down on one knee, examining the King of Team Plasma. For a split second, I heard quiet yet distinct sobbing emitting from N's mouth.

As I tried to pry away N's hands from his head, I heard Zekrom gnash his teeth, the sound reminding me of iron clattering against iron. "Go ahead, scorch me," I invited, "but I'm only trying to help him get through this, do you understand?"

I was about to pluck Reshiram's Ultra Ball from my pocket, when N sobbed, "D-Don't attack, because Z-Zekrom will d-defend i-i-itself against Reshiram, leaving n-nothing but d-d-destruction in their wake."

I was puzzled, unable to figure out what I should do in order to convince N Zekrom had returned for him. N was right about one thing: Reshiram and Zekrom battling in the same room would be too disastrous and life-threatening. "Reshiram and Zekrom need each other," I informed N, "because without Light, there would be no Darkness."

"If we didn't have Darkness, Light wouldn't exist," N said, his voice becoming steady now, "because Yin is the Darkness."

"While Yang represents the Light," I continued, thinking of how poetic we sounded. Maybe I could write a poem about Reshiram and Zekrom. I smiled at the thought of that.

"White gives birth to Black," N added, looking up, staring into my eyes.

"And Black gives birth to White," I finished, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I believe Zekrom isn't attracted to the darkness we think of as evil. Maybe Zekrom is drawn to your personality and attitude, but most of all, your beliefs." Zekrom dropped the malevolent atmosphere, gazing at me with wonder. "I'm pretty sure Zekrom would disagree with me on this, but it too was a single entity with Reshiram, one who seeks the Truth."

A look of comprehension dawned on N's face, his silvery eyes matching his countenance. "You're saying they need each other, White."

I nodded as confirmation. "Ghetsis still wants to rule the world, except both of us embody Truth/Light and Idealism/Darkness. Ask Zekrom if there was another Pokemon that could pose a threat to -"

Zekrom stretched its wings, flapping them welcomingly. N got onto his feet, still unsure about Zekrom's allegiance to him. "If you believe I'm your Champion, Zekrom, then prove me right."

Zekrom froze, making N frown. "Someone's coming, White."

I was about to procure Reshiram's Ultra Ball when N said sharply, "There's no time! Zekrom wants both of us on his back." As N scaled the studded portions of Zekrom's back, Zekrom buckled its knees playfully. "C'mon." N stretched out a hand toward me, inviting me on board.

I sprinted towards N, leaping up several times before he caught my hand. "You're heavy," he said, "but we have to find out what Ghetsis is up to."

Nodding, I allowed N to pull me up, seeing his face strain a little.

As I sat atop Zekrom's back, the Pokemon cried, making me feel guilty.

N turned around, his face drained of color. "There's no escape now," he moaned, a crestfallen look on his face.

As if on cue, the doors slammed open, banging against the white marble walls, revealing two recognizable silhouettes imprinted against the grandiose corridor.

With each step they took, my heart was racing. Somehow, I knew they held the fateful keys to N's and my destinies.

"Go into the shadows, Zekrom," N said softly. "Hold your hands around my waist, White."

I opened my mouth, unable to believe what I just heard. "You want me to embrace you? How embarrassing is that?" I said, blushing. "What if somebody saw me?"

"You were fine when you held my hand back when we were escaping," N reminded me, "and when we were making the leap of faith." He sounded half-bemused, half-embarrassed.

"That was different," I insisted. "I'm not wrapping my hands around your waist, N." I folded my arms against my chest, as a way of protesting.

"Have a nice fall then," he replied, flicking a strand of his hair behind his earlobe.

My face glowed red with anger. "You wouldn't dare -"

Out of the corner of my eye, I witnessed two familiar physiques gripping Poke Balls, one female and the other male. "N, you might want to take a look at this." I lay on my stomach, wrapping my arms around the shockingly smooth back of Zekrom, who seemed oblivious to my touch.

A gasp came from N's direction.

"What's going on?" I said, seeing N surveying the scene below us.

N wheeled around, an enigmatic expression planted on his face.

"Look down," N told me, "except you're not going to like this at all."

For once, I listened to N.

Craning my neck down, I carefully examined the two people, recognizing Ghetsis's face.

"If I win, then you uphold my part of the deal," said Ghetsis nastily.

"And if I win, you will uphold my part of the deal," said the second person.

I gasped, flinging my hands across my mouth in order to stifle the noise.

"What is it?" N seemed curious.

I didn't answer, because out of all the voices in Unova, that wasn't the one I expected to hear.

Or wanted to hear.

Looking at N, I said tearfully, "I hope she knows what's she's doing."

She had to win.

She had to!

A/N: "A Blast from the Past" is finished. Read and Review! The poll is still up for a limited amount of time, and feedbacks would be nice. I hoped you liked this chapter.

This chapter has been edited for grammar. No drastic changes were made that would affect the plot. The point of editing my prior chapters is to promote the upcoming sequel, Eventide.

Edited On: 11/01/15