Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. That right belongs to Game Freak and Nintendo.

A/N: So, it has been a while since I posted Chapter 22. Well, I did manage to catch wind of some news: Pokémon Black and White Version 2. The ideas I had in store for the story were remotely similar to the plot of the new game series. Nevertheless, I will try my best to diverge from my ideas or make a plot twist.

A/N: I know a lot of you voted CherenxWhitexN as the love triangle, but I decided to have BlackxWhitexN as the romantic love triangle. Yeah, you can beat me up later if you dislike my decision. I've already decided to pair Bianca with Cheren. Anyway, thank you for your very valued opinions.

A/N: Now, on to the next chapter.

N's PoV.

"White, recall Reshiram!" I yelled before turning around to amble over to her.

White had definitely descended into the darkness, although what kind of darkness she had gotten herself into I didn't know. What I did know was her facial expression spelled out overwhelmed. We need to get this Tag Team Battle over and done with so we can find Cheren, Bianca, Platina and Red, I thought.

I curiously examined White, who was pulling out Reshiram's Ultra Ball. The overwhelming facial expression she had was quelled by grimness. "So, you're listening to me for once?" I questioned her.

White nodded robotically. "Yes." She pointed the capsule toward Reshiram, who was as still as the night sky. Only the clash between Zekrom and Evan's Mightyena reminded me that we were still locked in a Tag Team Battle.

"I thought the climax would be sooo much more entertaining than this." Bethanne started to pull off one of her gloves, clenching a nail filer in her other hand. "Our Mightyena could probably defeat the Legendary Pokémon with ease, right, Evan?" She stifled a yawn.

"This isn't the time to do manicures," Evan told her sternly. "Victory hasn't smiled upon the brats or us yet, Bethanne. So, put your manicure kit away."

Bethanne threw daggers at Evan. "But I'm bored!" she whined. "I want havoc and destruction. Zekrom and Reshiram are able to dish it out! But so far, all they've been doing is growling nonstop at each other!" Lazily, she grazed her jagged nails against the filer, sneering at White and I.

Closing my eyes, I said to Reshiram, I thought you loved White, girl!

I do! Reshiram protested, a hint of defensiveness to her voice. But White has strayed off the Path of Truth – the road of those symbolizing Truth must always tread upon. White has come upon a crossroads, so she must choose which way is the right -

STOP SPEAKING IN RIDDLES AND HELP HER ALREADY! I screamed at her.

I can't, she insisted. The Ancient Laws constrict me from obeying her. Reshiram had a deep, remorseful undertone to her usually soft voice.

I felt as if I were being hit between the eyes. Ancient Laws? I repeated. I hoped to detect falsehood in Reshiram's eyes because I felt shields blocking me into the innermost chambers of her mind. However, my efforts were for naught.

Before Reshiram could answer me, White began to open up the Ultra Ball. However, another voice had chimed in, breaking the tension:

"Are you sure that's the best idea, Miss Snow?"

The owner of that voice was male, no doubt. His voice was rather compelling and ironic, brimming with confidence. White's face promptly lit up at the disembodied voice, a smile creasing her angelic features.

Once White swiveled around to greet the newcomer, I knew I would face a threat.

The threat turned out to be a brunette, clad in black and light blue, his untidy hair capped with a deep, rich red and black hat. His skin was slightly translucent and tanned. However, his smile was so brilliant it may as well have come with a warning sign. Out of all places to make a grand entrance, he decided to sit on the iron-wrought fence, but in a squatting position. He had his chin cupped in his hands.

He winked at me mockingly before batting his lashes at White, who almost swooned at the mere sight of him. She seemed to be hyperventilating at the newcomer did. Instantaneously, I felt nothing but anger surge up inside me, attempting to flood my heart. I tried to suppress it, but my unknown fury easily broke the barrier I had created, thus drowning me. For whatever reason, I hated him! I didn't know him but I already disliked him even more than Cheren and Red! If my dislike of Cheren and Red were combined together, this newfound hatred would surpass that dislike.

"What – are – y-you talking about?" White was as red as a rose. Meanwhile, my brain felt as if it were being wrung out nonstop. Unconsciously, I balled my hands into fists.

The brunette smiled at White as if he were God's greatest gift to her and everyone else. Once again, he looked my way and pulled a face. I merely glowered at him, my whole body quaking uncontrollably.

Bethanne looked up from filing her nails, pursing her lips. "Who are you?" she demanded.

The newcomer jumped on to the concrete walkway, tearing his eyes away from mine in order to take a better glimpse at Reshiram. His face was awestruck. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said sarcastically. "Can you repeat that again?" His eyes were shining, as if he were telling a joke.

"Who are you?" Bethanne snapped. "This is a Tag Team Battle, so move away from the field if you don't want to sustain wounds, brat!" She slipped her nail filer into her pocket, upset.

The boy put his hands up and slowly waltzed backward. "Your wish is my command, ma'am!" he said cheekily, pushing his cap downward. "But first, let me call you out on your –"

Right when Zekrom retracted his claws from Mightyena's canine face, I rounded on the lighthearted boy. "Who the hell are you?" My voice was so thick with unbearable rage that even White glanced at me with bewilderment.

The boy lowered his hands dramatically and cleared his throat. "Well, M," he began not-very-seriously.

"N," I corrected hastily.

The teenager just rolled his eyes. "You know, I really don't care." He eyed White and started smiling sheepishly at her. She returned the favor. "I could be your best friend."

Then, he scrutinized me as if I were a sea slug. "Or I could be your worst enemy."

"WHO ARE YOU?" I thundered.

"Hilbert," White answered promptly, clutching her chest. Her eyes were like stars.

"No," the boy named Hilbert disagreed.

Just then, Red, Platina, Cheren and Bianca came into the midst. "He goes by two pseudonyms," Cheren stated matter-of-factly. "I'm assuming you met him on the Battle Subway as Hilbert Shields."

"Yeah," said White slowly. "So his name isn't Hilbert Shields?" The welcoming smile she had given the newcomer crumpled into a frown.

Cheren pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "Well, I used to know him as Touya Yagami. That's the name he went by while he was taking on the Pokémon League Challenge."

Touya-Hilbert looked at Cheren. Cheren looked back at him. "I might as well just say it then."

Touya-Hilbert held his palm up heavenward. "No," he disagreed. "It's my place to announce my name, Cheren." As fast as thought, he lowered his hand, and pirouetted to face me.

His wide soft brown eyes suddenly bored into mine, thus leaving me transfixed with their intensity, even though I tried to break eye contact with him. "My name," he paused for suspense, "is Black."

Chapter 22: Reunion

N's PoV.

"Black," I said coldly. "So, what's your surname?" My blood was beginning to conflagrate at a rapid pace. The once-rational thoughts I had morphed into those of an irrational kind. As a matter of fact, irrational was too weak and colorless of a word to describe the scorching fury I felt within my heart.

Black shrugged his shoulders, unfazed by my sudden display of coldness. "I don't know," he said sadly, "but for some reason, I had a feeling as if White needed me." He surveyed White, her face now alight with merriment.

I snorted. "Well, of course she needed you," I said viciously. "Where were you when my father abducted her as part of some ploy to lure her parents out? Where were you when the two of us had to escape from my former castle? As a matter of fact, where were you when the Temporal Festival took place?" Black just rolled his eyes in response. Nevertheless, he kept his cool around me.

Bianca bit her lip, worried. "N," she said gently, "don't you think you're making a bad first impression?" In earnest, she glanced at Cheren, Platina, Red and White. "What do you think, you guys?"

"I'll tell you what I think," interjected Bethanne before anyone could answer Bianca. "Lord N, either continue this Tag Team Battle with the brat or forfeit the match!" Her Mightyena threw her head back and howled before eyeing me hungrily, drawing her lips back to reveal baring teeth. "You have three seconds to decide!"

Black started to walk over to the middle of the walkway. "Your duty is finished," he said flatly. "Ghetsis had commanded for you two idiots to distract White and N while Gorm tried to pull Kurosaki and Grace away from the festival." His eyes were as sharp as an arrow now. "Were those not your orders?"

Evan looked as if he swallowed a lemon, "Insolent child," growled Evan. "Of course those were our orders!"

Black grinned amicably at him. "Well, since Gorm's away licking his wounds now thanks to Platina and Red. . . You really have no reason continuing this Pokémon Battle." He started to strut back and forth regally. "So, I suggest you leave before I join this skirmish and make it a Rotation Battle. Or maybe even a Triple Battle." Black produced a Poke Ball out of nowhere and started to throw it skyward. It descended to the walkway, but Black quickly and deftly caught it.

Evan and Bethanne opened their mouths, and then closed them. Hissing, Bethanne cried, "MIGHTYENA, RETURN!" Mightyena disappeared in crimson light. Several moments later, Evan followed suit.

"A wise move on your behalf," said Platina, nodding with satisfaction. "I would've thought for sure you would battle for pride." Behind her, Red looked embarrassed. He suddenly had a staring contest with Pikachu.

Both Team Plasma grunts stared down at the ground for a long time. While they were busy admitting defeat to themselves, I recalled Zekrom into his Ultra Ball. White did the same with Reshiram, disconcerted.

Ancient Laws? The Path of Truth? Despite my expressed outrage toward Black, I was thoroughly confused with the information Reshiram had divulged to me. In fact, that's all I desired to reflect upon. Except for one thing; Black himself.

"So," said Black confidently. "What's it going to be, Team Plasma?" He froze in his tracks, becoming completely rigid in front of me. Despite my attempt to avert my eyes and focus heavily on Reshiram's cryptic words, this nameless feeling akin to anger kept swelling up inside me, almost as if it were a water balloon.

Evan was the first to bow his head upward. With a detached voice, he said, "The kid's right. We have no other option but to retreat." Bethanne brought her head up at that, her eyes narrowed in a feline-esque way. "Bethanne, we have no other option! We follow Lord Gorm's orders first and foremost –"

"But to an extent, we abide by the orders Lord Ghetsis gives us," Bethanne insisted. "I say we throw out our –"

Cheren came forward just then, shaking his head slightly. "She doesn't know when defeat is staring at her dead in the face," he sighed. "So, do we head back to our resting place for the night, or do we just watch them squabble?"

White took off her hat, combed her hair with the tips of her fingers, and then removed the barrette holding her lustrous hair in place. It flowed downward gently and gracefully. "Stupid barrette," she mumbled. She looked rather repulsed at the mere sight of the hair tie before slipping it onto her wrist.

I glanced at Cheren. Then at White. Unwillingly, I gazed at Red, arm-in-arm with Platina. I eyed Bianca, who was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, aglow with happiness. I couldn't bring myself to look at Black. In fact, even thinking about his name made me want to vomit.

"So be it," I heard Bethanne concede. "Don't think you've won this time with your elaborate choice of words, you little twerp!" Unmistakably, she threw a dirty look at me. "I won't forget this, Lord N! You and your girlfriend haven't won this fight."

"But you forfeited," Cheren pointed out. "Therefore, you've lost. Accept defeat when you're facing it." He seemed livid at the blind rage Bethanne was exuding from her aura. Her eyes were saying to me, This Tag Team Battle isn't over. Not by a long shot!

"Pika, pi!" Pikachu agreed.

"Well, as conscientious as you are, Cheren, I'll have to disagree with you." Red extricated himself from Platina's embrace, walking straight toward him, but not before flashing me a disapproving look. His blood red eyes were the same shape as White's, albeit they were less friendly. I was starting to wonder if Red's hostile countenance toward me was strictly a paternal one and not because I was Ghetsis's son. However, I was more comfortable with the latter.

"Fall back, Bethanne!" said Evan, grasping his compatriot by the wrist. "She brings up a valid point; next time, we will prevail, my Lord N! You'll be brought to justice before our new sovereign!" Evan broke into a sprint whilst still holding Bethanne by the wrist. We stood and watched them make their way through the draconic statue maze before disappearing into the darkness.

There was a pregnant pause.

Finally, White broke the still silence. Glancing at Cheren, she said earnestly, "The last I had heard from you was when you called me, Cheren." She chanced a meaningful glance at Bianca before giving Cheren her full and undivided attention.

"Yeah," said Cheren slowly. "Bianca and I . . ." His face flushed a reddish-pink. "Well, why won't you tell White and N what had happened, Bianca?" His cool and calculating voice was thick with dreaminess.

Unable to comprehend Cheren's content expression, I said bluntly, "White was asking you to explain why you suddenly hung up over the X-Transceiver." Cheren snapped out of Dreamland, narrowing his eyes with contempt. The reddish-pink color painted faintly on his cheeks was darkening to a scarlet red. "I mean, she is your friend, right?"

White raised her eyebrows robotically. She spun around and darted toward Bianca, Platina and Red. She literally tackled Bianca and said shrilly, "C'mon, spill what happened between you two, girl." I started to look in Bianca's and White's direction, but Cheren grasped me by the bow.

"You don't understand, do you?" He was livid. "Actually, you never had understood humans, N! White understands what was going through my mind at that moment –"

I wrenched his hand from my bow. "Get your hands off me," I demanded. "Unlike you, I'm not trying to have an excess amount of fun, goofing off."

"Well, isn't that what a festival's for?" Black piped up.

I pretended not to notice Black had spoken to me. After all, couldn't they see the danger we were all in? "Cherry, did you say you can read her mind?" I said indifferently. Behind me, I heard Black snort with derision.

Cheren slapped his hand to his forehead. "I've known her well enough to determine what's on her mind; if that is the response you're searching for."

I bowed my head down. "I thought I was the only one who could," I mumbled, falling into a bout of depression. I could feel White's mind tug at the edge of my consciousness, as if begging to invite her in for the umpteenth time. This had happened every time she confronted me prior to battling with our Pokémon. Sometimes, I wonder if she was aware of doing so.

"I can, too," said Black happily. I totally forgot that I was ignoring him, for I abruptly twirled around, glowering at him. "Or maybe not. Wait, there was that one time I thought I did . . . No, we just knew each other's strategies in the Battle Subway, so that wasn't really mind-reading." He chuckled at the hot fury I knew was showing on my face. "Goodness gracious, you really have a soft spot for the lovely White Electra, am I right, N?"

White's PoV.

After those two idiots left, throwing away the match in our favor, I immediately wanted to question Cheren about his phone call to me over the X-Transceiver. He was about to, that much I can tell. However, he was about to plunge into a story about Bianca and he. Judging from his facial expression and tone of voice, they had a moment. In fact, that was enough to divert me from my otherwise intense interrogation of Cheren.

I was so happy for them. I knew for a very long time Cheren had a thing for Bianca, although he did his best to hide it. Since Cheren was a guy, I wasn't sure whether I was the right person to talk out this precious moment with or not, so I strode over to Bianca, who was just as red as he was, if not redder.

"Bianca." I grasped her hands and started to jump up and down with elation. "C'mon, spill what happened between you two, girl!" Bianca was looking anywhere but at me, her eyes shining with shyness. "If you won't tell me, then can you tell me later?" I added tonelessly, although there was a faint trace of longing in my voice.

"S-Sure thing," said Bianca faintly, smiling nervously at me. "I'll tell you when we get to Drayden's and Iris's house, White."

I immediately felt a tugging at the corner of my mind. Unconsciously, I stared at N, who was having a verbal war with both Cheren and Black. Black, however, seemed more passionate at winning the argument than Cheren did. What can you expect from somebody who's very petulant? I thought hopelessly. But what was that tugging just now? And how did I know it was N who was projecting that towards me? I was bewildered at how I had arrived at this conclusion.

I gazed at Mother. Her exquisite face was alight with maternal love, her eyes dancing with joy and relief. "Hey, Mom," I greeted her icily. Promptly, her face fell, replaced by hurt. Worry. Confusion. Anger. A whole mixture of emotions were readable on her visage.

She claimed she and Red protected me for all of these years. However, she was nothing but a liar to me at the moment. Awkwardly, I glanced at Red, his usual easygoing attitude altering into madness. "Go on and lecture me," I challenged him. "I honestly don't care."

"Sweetie . . . ," began Red. "When will you understand I did this for your mother and you out of love?" His tone was heartbreaking, matching those of his eyes. I noticed for the first time his eyes were shaped exactly like mine.

I could tell Red actually did love me. It was etched on his face, crystal clear in his eyes, dripping blatantly in his voice. But it was the absence from my life that defined his parenting, not his love for me. "No," I insisted. "If you're thinking I'm being selfish, then you are half right. I'm selfish because I want you around, but I don't want to know you. In fact, I don't see a valid reason to fit you in my life at the moment."

My mother shook her head. "This is because you can't forgive him, can't you?" she pointed out.

Your mother knows best, Bianca had said to me long ago. Her words were as afresh as they were then. "No," I lied brutally. "I only want the best for you, Mother. However, Red left you and you didn't have enough self-respect to get over him," I ranted on. My mother's eyes narrowed. Her fury was so cold, so intense I couldn't help but wince.

"White." She sounded infuriated now. "What's wrong with you? You used to be a sweet, caring and wonderful girl. It was no wonder Reshiram had chosen you as the Hero of Truth."

I tore my eyes from her and wheeled around. "Well, she used to listen to me. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have defeated Alder. Actually, without Reshiram, Beartic, Volcarona, Cobalion, Zebstrika and Samurott, I wouldn't even be the Pokémon Champion of Unova."

"B-But you have Simisear and Tornadus on your team," Bianca put in. "Did you somehow switch Volcarona and Beartic with them b-before you came home to Nuvema Town?"

I nodded. It seemed like centuries ago when I had defeated Alder. When I was finished with my battle, I had switched Volcarona with Simisear and Beartic with Tornadus. "I miss them very much," I admitted, "but anyway, I'm getting off track." I looked meaningfully at my mother, Red and Bianca. "When N and I were facing off against Bethanne and Evan, something peculiar happened."

"Such as?" Red pressed on. Pikachu's ears jerked up, his beady eyes sparkling with eagerness and curiosity. He leaped off Red's head and snaked his body round his shoulder, nuzzling against his neck. Red started to chuckle good-naturedly, although stopped when Mother gave him a reproachful look.

I eyed the ground, feeling anxious at the mere thought of maintaining eye contact with Red when his Pikachu was perched on his shoulder, obviously interested in what I had to say, but wanted to publicly display his love for Red in front of me.

"Young lady, put your head up please," my mother said. "It's rude of you to keep on treating Red with disrespect."

Mechanically, I rose my head up. I was suddenly aware of everyone regrouping. Bianca, Red, my mother, Cheren, N and Black. N and Black, I thought dreamily. Both of them appeared to be grouchy, although Black had more of a sullen attitude to him. N, on the contrary, was teetering on the verge of falling into gloominess.

"Where are Drayden and Iris?" I asked.

"They said they were going home," answered Bianca quickly. "Actually, they wish for us to spend the night. Anyway, White, do you want a slumber party with Iris?" Bianca started leaping up and down, the skirt of her dress slightly ascending. Her aquamarine eyes were desperately pleading for me to take the invitation.

"Before she agrees, she has to tell us what happened," Red said abruptly, much to my dismay.

"Allow me," N offered. His eyes, greener than summer leaves, were solemn.

Red started laughing at that. "I asked my daughter to explain what happened, not you." Both he and N had a staring contest, neither of them willing to back down. For God's sake, they're so obstinate! I found myself thinking.

I gave a nervous laugh. Fiddling with my hat, I said grudgingly to Bianca, "You know how much I hate slumber parties, but I need a night to let my hair down and set my head straight. Tonight's not a night I want to remember . . . ," my voice trailed off after a sudden disturbance happened internally.

Once again, I felt as if N was mentally teasing the edges of my mind. The very idea of voicing that out loud would be a bad one. I had to know you, spoke N's voice through my memories, as crystal clear as the chime of a bell.

Then, the memory of N and I dancing together engulfed me. When he held his hand out for me to take, I felt terror, though I had no reason to be afraid. I had always felt that way around him. But at the same time, that terror was exhilarating. It was enough to make me rigid and fight against the impulse to run and flee. After I had taken his hand, his gaze had softened and the barely-controllable terror gradually became controllable, enough for me to revel in it.

I looked at N and was unsurprised to find him staring straight at me. You crossed the line when you asked me to dance, I thought confidently. Deep down inside, I'm fighting something. I don't know what it is, but somehow you bring it out. But this is out of my control. Your control. Our control. Even if I were to tell Bianca and Cheren about the intense moment we shared tonight, I don't think they would understand. I mean, I don't even understand.

It was as if gravity had no effect between N and I. Then, it all had to shatter.

"Since your daughter is so adamant to explain," said Black, "maybe I should since I was there."

Red released a sigh of resignation. "She gets her stubbornness from me."

Mother laughed humorlessly. "I'll give you that." She fixated her eyes on Black. "You've been a big help to us today, Black. Why, I might even call you a savior." Black flushed with pride at that. "For such a remarkably good-looking boy, you're sort of . . . mysterious."

Black smiled. "I do hope you mean that as a compliment, ma'am," he said sweetly. "You too are an elegant woman. I see where White gets her beauty from. And of course from her father," he added quickly, seeing Red raise his brows questioningly. "I would say this to you Red, even if it degrades my position in your eyes: You are a very handsome man."

Whatever Red was expecting, it wasn't that. "Thank you for the compliment." He was doing a poor job of not trying to look flattered. "Black, can you tell us about the peculiarity that happened tonight after rescuing Cheren and Bianca?"

I need to switch Simisear and Tornadus out with Beartic and Volcarona, I thought tiredly. I really did miss them a lot. For some reason, I was only conscious of Black and N. Therefore, it was incredibly easy of Black to snap me out of my reverie. I was annoyed that he did so, but at the same time, I was very assuaged.

"It's obvious Reshiram cares a great deal for White," said Black fondly. "The love they share is beautiful. But when White told Reshiram to attack, some sort of force prevented Reshiram from obeying White. It was as if she wanted to help White, but something was . . . forbidding her."

"But that's impossible," uttered Bianca. "White has all the Gym Badges, meaning Reshiram has no choice but to obey White." I saw N's and Black's eyes flash dangerously at the way Bianca said obey.

"That wasn't it at all," N chimed in. "I don't know what her problem was, though."

Black smirked arrogantly. "Are you saying you didn't feel her sadness and remorse?"

N hissed, "I barely know you yet you address me with a lot of informality!" His face was twisted with spite.

I looked at both of them, at a loss for words. Meanwhile, Cheren, Bianca, my mother, Red and Pikachu had a mutual understanding between them. Well, if they understood what was happening, how come they were leaving me out of the loop?

"I address you with formality," said Black lightly. "It's not my fault you don't understand what Reshiram means by the Path of Truth and the Ancient Laws."

Whatever hostility N had towards Black immediately became evanescent. He was befuddled. "How do you know about that?" he said weakly.

I gazed around at everybody and saw they all wore identical bemused expressions. If N was more thunderstruck than I was, then I wouldn't be shocked.

"Because I'm the same as you, Natural Harmonia Gropius."

A/N: I'm done with another chapter! Hopefully, you'll review. Oh and by the way, there's a new poll up so if you have time, vote on it!

This chapter was edited for grammatical and spelling mistakes. Very little of the original content has been removed for this chapter. The plotline so far has remained largely unchanged. Surnames have been changed. This chapter and the ones before it were reedited with the sole intent to promote this story and its upcoming sequel, Eventide.

Edited On: 11/04/15