"So don't let them steal your light, Don't let them break your stride, There is light on the other side, And you'll see all the raindrops falling behind, It's a revolution"- Revolution by Diplo ft Faustix, Imanos & Kai
A few days after I come home, White's back in town. I know this because she shows up in my room while I'm researching Emboars and what moves they use. I'm considering teaching him Bulldoze for the time being, but when he reaches level 62, he'll learn Flare Blitz, which is an ultra powerful Fire-type attack. The recoil damage is a liability, but in the chance that he gets frozen, it just might come in handy. Since I'll be going up against Brycen eventually, I have to consider this possibility.
"Hey B, what are you doing?" White asks as she's standing by my doorway.
I'm surprised to see her, yet I'm totally happy. I stop everything and hug her as hard as I can. "I missed you so much, White!"
"I missed you too, B." She sits down in my beanbag chair as I retreat back into the chair I was using on my laptop. "So how have you been?" White stands around my room, pacing like she usually does.
"I've been doing great! I love working for Professor Juniper! I also just won the Quake Badge from Clay. I'm kind of doing this whole Pokémon Gym Challenge thing one at a time. I find it easier to train and read up on compatibility and the importance of variety."
"Wow. The Bianca I know would instead go headfirst into battle." That's the Old Bianca from when it comes to battling. New Bianca has done better in learning as much as possible and then acting as she sees fit. It's worked so far.
"I guess you can say I've changed, even though I'm still a mess at times. I think it's safe to say that I still go headfirst into things quite often, though." White laughs. Her laugh is different. Rougher, even. "How have you been?"
"It took over a month, but Looker and I managed to interview six of Plasma's Sages. They were all compliant, which kinda shocked me. But now it's over and I have to figure out what I have to do next. I mean, there isn't much to do in Unova anymore at this point so I think I'm going to challenge the Elite Four properly this time, as well as Alder and become Unova's Champion." I don't know why, but my first reaction is to what Cheren would think of this. But Cheren hasn't communicated with me in over a month so I quickly push that to the back of my mind.
"That's great!"
"Yeah." White's suddenly quiet, which can only mean something's bugging her. "The last one of them, Sage Giallo, said something that stuck out to me. He said that somewhere in this world there is someone who understands me, and it feels like that person is right besides me, even if we're as far apart as the end of the land and the top of the sky. Do you think that's true?"
"Well, you and N aren't ordinary people."
"I never said I was talking about N," she says. I give her a straightforward glance and she visibly cracks. "Okay, so if I meant N, would you think that's true?"
"I don't know," I say with all of my honesty. "You never really told me much about your time with him."
There's tension in the room from White's part and I don't know if I like it. "All this time, I felt this need to help him. It went beyond all sense of reason at times and I felt helpless and childish at times, but then it turns out I was probably feeling exactly how he felt. Right now, I feel nothing of the sort. Like he's far away. I guess I should let him be. Let him grow and make himself the person he wants to be instead of the puppet Ghetsis wanted him to be. Seriously, though, do you think you can run me some research on his origins sometime in the future? You've got access to trainer data."
"Sure!"
"Thanks. Just so you know, his last name's Harmonia, so maybe that's a good jumping point."
"That helps a lot."
"Hey, if you don't hear from me in the next few days, it's because I'm going to go for the win." I give her my best smile as the tone of the room instantly shifts towards a more lighthearted tone and we make smaller talk about things that don't matter as much. It feels like the old White's back again, even though this is but a fleeting moment.
It isn't until a few days later when I finally have the time to conduct a quick background check on N. These background checks are professional, as they don't go very far into a person's life other than basic information. Turns out his whole name is Natural Harmonia Gropius, which makes me giggle so loudly, Juniper asks me if I'm okay in the other room and I'm quick to reassure her while skimming his basic info. His starting Pokémon was one called Zorua.
I quickly open up another tab to look up information on Zorua and what comes up is an adorable Pokémon so gray, it looks black with dark red dots on its forehead as well as red eyelids, feet, and the top of its head. What makes it stand out the most is its large teal eyes that give it a mischievous look.
OHMYGOSH I WANT TO HUG IT RIGHT NOW! I squeal as I look at it.
Its really rare, apparently, and its a pure Dark-type. I honestly think this is the first Dark Pokémon I've wanted to cuddle with. Is that a bad thing?
I notice how quick I am to getting sidetracked and look up more information on N, even though there isn't much other than his TrainerID number, his age (he's turning twenty-one this winter), and his guardian, who happens to be Ghetsis Harmonia. So he his actual dad or something? The other interesting thing about him is his three hundred word essay he sent to Juniper. The N I met in the caves was awkward and stumbled over his words. This one...well...
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Natural Harmonia and I am twenty years of age. Although the average trainer going on their first journey is seventeen or eighteen, I am aware that I am much older than that of my peers, but fear not, as I have come to face this journey with a different mindset than them. Please, you need not worry about my so-called "starter" as I have a Zorua as my primary companion and dearest friend. You also do not have to burden me with a Pokédex as well. All I require is a Trainer Identification number and a request that I start from Striaton City and finish at Opelucid City. My goals are rather simple, despite their grandiosity: I envision a glorious future in which Pokémon and humans are content with the way the world is and I plan on ensuring that no such possible harm will ever be demonstrated on a Pokémon on my journey. I shall collect badges and prove myself as the extraordinary trainer I am meant to be. I shall display this by becoming Champion and I will change Unova into being best it can be for I am the leader that will inspire change. I am the leader this region needs and I will be the one to bring harmony to Unova forevermore.
Well okay then. I don't think I should show White that, since it could bring back bad memories and all that, but I find it deeply interested how committed to his thoughts he was. He really believed the grandiosity and truth of his words.
"Bianca! Come into the living room, right now!" Professor Juniper's words come from the room next to us. I close N's tab and leave his past to rest.
When I come out of the office room, I see Juniper's sitting on the couch watching a Pokémon battle. But this is no ordinary Pokémon battle. This is the Championship and it's none other than White challenging Alder.
I think history's going to be made today as I know White can beat Alder. If she could beat N and his guardian, she can most definitely do this.
The battle starts with Alder calling forth an Accelgor, which is a rather grumpy looking Pokémon. White calls forth a Volcarona, which flutters in the sunlight.
"Wow, you have a Volcarona. How marvelous," Alder says.
"I hatched her," White says proudly. She unleashes an Overheat and it deeply affects the Accelgor to the point that it burns. Alder is not disppointed nor stunned by her attack. She keeps spamming the attack, which is less powerful on the Accelgor on each use until it faints.
"Good job. I see you have found a strength in your bond as I have studied the Volcarona long since before you were born. Bouffalant, come out."
Volcarona is relentless in her Silver Wind attack, which on the screen, says it has taken almost half damage.
"I should order pizza," Juniper says to herself and dials up a number for pizza. I don't take my eyes off the screen. With one good Rock Slide, Vocarona is instantly taken down with that hit.
White takes out her Samurott next and KOs the Bouffalant two turns later.
I lose focus when the pizza comes after and I am the one who answers the door. Juniper decided to pay in cash and was a few cents short. I also tell her the delivery boy has to be tipped for giving us pizza so she looks for more money.
It isn't until he leaves that I see that he doodled an Audino waving at me, saying "Have a great day!" and it gives me warm fuzzy feelings. I'll have to cut out that drawing of the Audino and stick it on a fridge.
When I go back to the TV screen, it indicates that White's on her fourth Pokémon, which happens to be a Vaniluxe and Alder's on his fifth, aka a Druddigon. It's obvious who wins the type matchup here.
The battle doesn't get as suspenseful as I hope it would because when Alder takes out his final Pokémon, a Volcarona, she counters it with her Samurott once more. I know the Championship is now within her grasp so instead of suspense, I feel excitement and happiness. I also feel kind of disappointed she never took out Zekrom.
When Alder takes the final blow (a Surf, no less), he bows out gracefully. "Please do not mourn me for this is my retirement from the League. I am going back to my hometown in Floccesy Town to be with my family. But before I go, I want to tell the audience this: this was a fair and just fight. Long ago, I was given my starter Pokémon and we had a bond like no other. When I lost her, I lost myself so much that I failed to bond properly with those I still had. So please, love and cherish your Pokémon, all of them, and forge those bonds like no other. That is my secret to having strength." He bows and leaves the podium, where White takes her place on the throne and after the celebrations unfold, the screen cuts to black.