AN: Enjoy the chapter.
Ch 54 An Unknown Bond
(Insert N's Encounter Theme (Remastered) Pokémon Black & White)
"N," Helena looked up at the green-haired trainer, surprised to meet him again. She got up from the grass, dusting off the dirt she got.
The young Researcher smiles at the trainer she met in the City. "I didn't expect to meet again, N." Helena greeted the green-haired trainer. "But a welcome one,"
N nodded, holding Zorua in his arms. "I wasn't expecting to meet you again too." The young trainer greeted Helena back. "I take it you found your friend back in Castelia City?" He asked the black-haired girl.
"Yes, it's all thanks to you that I was able to find Iris and help another friend of ours." Helena smiles at the young trainer before her.
"I'm glad I was able to help, hmm?" N looks down at Helena's feet, seeing a Pokemon rarely seen hiding behind her legs. He smiles kindly at her, giving a welcoming feeling towards the Kirlia. "Hello there, it's rare to see you around these parts of Unova."
Kirlia came out from Helena's legs, sensing this trainer was similar to her Partner. "Kirlia?" She approached the green-haired trainer. "Kirlia!"
N chuckles, at how friendly Kirlia was. He extends his hand to the Duel-type, allowing her to shake it. "It's nice to meet you too, Kirlia." He greeted her back.
"Kirlia," Kirlia smiles at the green-haired trainer,
Zorua leaps out of his friend's arms, walking up to Helena and staring at her.
Helena kneels down, petting the rare Pokemon's head. "So, you're a Zorua? Aren't you adorable?" She giggles, kneeling on the ground and petting his cheeks. "Your coat is smooth and shiny; your trainer must really be taking care of you."
Zorua smiles, allowing himself to be petted by the Ability User.
"This is a surprise; I didn't expect that Zorua would get comfortable with anyone but me and my Sisters," N said, watching Helena interact with his Friend.
"Well, I do have a way with Pokemon."' Helena explains to the green-haired trainer. "I can understand what they're trying to say and how they feel-"
N quickly got close to Helena, hearing what she said. "You? You can hear the voices of Pokemon too?" He asked the black-haired girl.
Helena was taken aback by the sudden approach of this trainer. "Um…yeah, it's like second nature to me." She explains to the trainer before her.
"And yet you use your Ability to subjugate the Pokemon in Pokeballs." N frowns, leaning back from Helena. He looks at Kirlia who has taken an interest in him, petting her head softly.
"Actually, I ask before I catch them," Helena stated, playing with Zorua's paws like a puppy.
N paused, looking at Helena at what she said. "What?" He asked.
"I'm aware that Pokemon doesn't like to be caught out on a whim. But for me and my friends back in Hoenn, we ask before taking them on our Journey." Helena explains to the trainer before her. "From the Pokemon I have with me, they all wanted to come with me. Though I do need to train them a bit to be on par with everyone else." She giggles,
"I-I see, but do you really need to Battle for your Pokemon to get stronger?" N asked the black-haired trainer, unsure why he was spending time with her talking. "Having people force Pokemon in Pokemon Battles is wrong, if a Pokemon overexert themselves then it wouldn't benefit the Pokemon's health."
Helena looks at N, curious why he's talking about Pokemon and Pokeballs. "Tell me something, N. How do Pokemon Evolve? I know that most Pokemon want to Evolve someday." She asked him.
"Many Pokemon have a unique way of Evolving." N answers, knowing that about Pokemon already from Ghetsis's lessons. "It's well known that Pokemon Evolve when they get stronger. But there are other methods that they can use-"
"And yet, Pokemon over the years depends on Pokemon trainers to help with their Evolution." Helena smiles, explaining her view on Pokemon and People. "Take Petilili, they need a Sun Stone to Evolve into a Liligant. Sun Stones are quite rare to find, trainers usually find them in the desert on Route Four, or a Riolu who needs a strong friendship with their trainer to Evolve into a Lucario."
The green-haired trainer was at a loss for words, he never thought that someone who catches Pokemon was able to make a valid point on why People and Pokemon should stay together. But still…it doesn't change a thing after what the Pokemon Ghetsis saved said.
"Your ideals are…something, Helena." N chuckles before asking her something else. "Since you have…shed some light on the ideals I had. It's only right for me to ask you something." He said, looking at the black-haired girl.
"Sure, what is it, N?" Helena asked the trainer before her.
N looks over to the area where the Petililies were before. "What exactly were you going to do with those Petililies in that small meadow over there?" He asked Helena,
Helena smiles, having a simple answer to N's question. "I'm studying Pokemon ancient Regional forms. My topic is the Pokemon of the Hisui Region, and Petilili is one of the Pokemon that is said to live there." She explains to the trainer.
"Why are you researching something like that?" N asked, a bit curious as to why this strange girl is studying something like that.
"Hmmm, let's just say after reading a book, the topic just resonates with me." Helena smiles innocently at the green-haired trainer.
N's eyes widened when Helena smiled at him. That smile brought an unknown memory in the young trainer's head.
Staring down in the crib, he saw an infant staring back at him with an innocent smile. "N-"
"N!" The green-haired trainer gasps, seeing Helena close to his face. She had her hand on his forehead with a concerned expression.
"W-What are you-"
"Are you feeling all right, N? Your face looks pale," Helena asked, looking at his face,
N looks away from Helena, unsure how to respond to her question. "U-Um, (ahem) yes, just a…minor headache." He responded,
Helena leans back, going through her bag for something. She took out a water bottle and handed it to N. "If you have a headache, you should drink plenty of water and rest, N." She explains, giving him a stern expression.
"But this is your water bottle, I shouldn't-"
"Kirlia!" Kirlia exclaims at the green-haired trainer for not taking her Partner's offering.
Zorua nodded, agreeing with the two on that notion. The Tricky Fox Pokemon wants his Friend to be better; he trusts this girl to do so.
N closes his eyes before taking the water from her hands. He drank a bit, making sure his mouth didn't touch the opening before handing it back to her. "T-Thank you…for the water, I mean." He said, a bit of a blush covering his cheeks.
"You're very welcome," Helena stood up from the grass, placing her water back into her back. "Come on Kirlia, I bet they went deeper into the forest."
Kirlia nodded, going over to her Partner.
"Where're you going, Helena?" N asked, looking up at the black-haired girl.
Helena smiles, "Going to find those Petililies of course," She answered cheerfully at the green-haired trainer.
N looks at Helena, curious if she's going to capture one. "Helena, what are you going to do if you find them again?" The green-haired trainer asked,
"I'm just going to take some pictures and note what I observe. That's what Professor Ceder told me when researching something." Helena explains to the trainer behind her.
"Researching…" N ponders for a moment on what Helena told him. He stood up, can't help but be curious about what she was researching.
Helena looks at N, looking at her with intrigued eyes. "If you would, do you mind if I accompany you?" He asked.
"Sure, I don't mind." Helena smiles, walking deeper into the forest. This time with her new friends she made.
Walking together in the greenery, N looks at Helena reading a book she got from her bag. "Helena, what do you have in your hand?" N asked, looking at the old-looking book in her hands.
Helena looks at the green-haired trainer, showing the book she got from Professor Birch. "It's a book about Ancient Sinnoh or the Hisui Region. Our Regional Professor gave this book to me when we were leaving his laboratory since I've taken an interest in it." She explains to her friend.
"Do you mind if I take a look?" N asked, interested in what she was reading.
The Ability User smiles, handing over her book. "Here you go."
N took the book, flipping on each page and seeing the information it has on the Pokemon in the Hisui Region. When he flips to the next page, the information catches his eye. "Petilili and Liligant…"
He noticed that the Petilili was the same but the image next to it was different from the Liligant from the one he knew. "Interesting, so this is what a Hisuian Liligant looks like," N commented on the Ancient Pokemon.
It was bipedal like a dancer, with shorter hair leaves, purple eyes, and two yellow plant-like shoes. "Reminds me of a dancer," N looks at Helena curious about what she thinks of it. "Helena, how do you think Liligant evolve into a Hisuian Liligant?"
Helena looks at the trainer following behind her and Kirlia. "My guess is the uniqueness of the land influences the Evolutionary difference in the Pokemon that once lived in Hisui." She explains her theory on why the Pokemon looked different than the trainer.
"Interesting theory," N nodded, finding her theory of Helena to be fascinating.
Kirlia and Zorua halted their advancement, hearing something just ahead of them. Zorua barks, pointing his little paw at the other side of the brush.
Kirlia turns around to their trainers, informing them what they sensed. "Kirlia! Kirl!" She cried out to them.
Both trainers looked down at their Pokemon, seeing them trying to get their attention. "What is it, Kirlia?" Helena asked her Partner on the ground. She looks forward, seeing the Emotion Pokemon pointing to the brush. "Did you and Zorua sense something over there?" She asked the two.
The two Pokemon nodded, confirming what the black-haired trainer.
"Seems like those two have found the Petililies behind the greenery over there." N points to the other side of the brush.
Helena smiles down at the Pokemon before her. "Let's go you two," She said, walking towards the brush with everyone following her,
N held out his hand to Helena before proceeding. "Hold on, this brush is a bit thick for Kirlia and Zorua, Helena." The green-haired trainer picks up the Dark-type Pokemon into his arms. N then removes his cap and places it on his Partner's head. "There, now the branches and twigs won't scratch you, Zorua."
Zorua giggles, appreciating his Friend for placing some protection for him.
"Do you have something to cover Kirlia from the bushes?" N asked the black-haired trainer.
"Just give me a moment." N watches as Helena takes out a scarf from her bag, wrapping it around the Duel-type Pokemon. "There, I was planning to wear this scarf when we get to a cold climate, but it can be used as a face covering too." Helena smiles.
"Kirlia!" Kirlia agrees, appreciating her Partner's consideration for her.
N smiles slightly at how Helena is willing to protect her Pokemon just because he did it to Zorua. He cleared his throat, continuing their way, "If you're ready, Helena. Shall we head in?" N asked the black-haired trainer. Helena nodded, following N through the brush.
Both Helena and N walk through the thick bush with their Pokemon in their arms. Once they got through the brush, the two saw the same Petililies as before.
"N, over there." Helena points to another small meadow where the Bulb Pokemon gathered around the flowerbeds.
N looks at the meadow, seeing the Grass-type Pokemon playing around. "I see them," He then heard Helena placing Kirlia down and rummaging through her bag. "Helena, what are you doing?" He observes the black-haired girl taking out a notepad and her Rotom Phone from her pocket.
"I'm just taking out my Rotom Phone and notepad to take some notes on the Petililies," Helena informed the green-haired trainer.
N frowns upon seeing Rotom used as a tool by the trainers and people. He then noticed that the face of the Electric-type Pokemon was smiling like all the other forms he possessed. N places down Zorua and sat down on the grass.
The two sat down on the grass for a few minutes, observing the Grass-type Pokemon play in the meadow.
"Kirlia, Kirlia!" Kirlia waves at Helena and N while Ponyta, Dratini, Hatenna, Zorua, Woobat, Darumaka, Purrloin, and Boldore play with the Petililies in the meadow.
The Pokemon played with the Petililies as the two trainers observed their interactions. "Helena, what exactly are we observing about the Petililies?" N looks at Helena, wanting to know what they are looking out for.
"We're just observing the nature of the Pokemon and how they live their daily lives," Helena explains, taking pictures of the Bulb Pokemon, some with their own Pokemon in the photo.
N nodded, seeing she was not intentionally harming the Petililies by capturing them. He blinks, looking down, feeling something tugging on his shirt. "Hmm? Why hello there, friend." N smiles at the Petilili staring at him.
"Pet," Petilili smiles at the warm welcome that N gave to her.
"Huh?" N watches the Bulb Pokemon climbing on his lap. He saw Petilili sitting down on his lap. He smiles at the Grass-type Pokemon relaxing in his presence. "Heh," He gently pets the little Pokemon on her head, finding it tranquil.
"Yes, I can hear the inner voices of Pokemon," N confirms Helena's question. "I can understand what Pokemon are saying from the Pokemon from their terrible experience Helena smiles, continuing her observation. "You must be really good with Pokemon N," She commented, jotting down some notes.
"If I remember correctly, you said that you can speak to Pokemon before." She looks at N, making small talk with the trainer.
N nodded, "The Pokemon I've met told me of their terrible experience with people. My-never mind." He smiles, almost revealing his origins to Helena.
"Hmm, it seems that you misunderstood what the Pokemon was saying, N," Helena said, placing down her notepad.
N's blue eyes looked at the black-haired girl, "What did I misunderstand? My friends were treated badly in the hands of people." He stated, a bit frustrated with her.
Helena shook her hands, "Oh no, I didn't mean it like that." She said. "I admit there are bad people who treat Pokemon like tools. But some adore their trainers, Partners." She explains, getting a feeling like he was a part of something. "Take my Pokemon and myself for an example. Do you think I mistreat Pokemon?" Helena asked.
"No, from the time I spent with you today, I can tell you treat them as your Partners." N shook his head, finding that word to be too little to describe what Helena and her Pokemon have. "No, that's not the word I use to describe your relationship with your Pokemon…" He ponders, petting Petilili on his lap.
Helena smiles, "I think your word to describe me and my Pokemon is family,"
N blinks at Helena, finding that word she said to be the perfect word to describe them. "Seems like that's the word to best describe you all." He chuckles.
Suddenly Zorua and Purrloin heard some twigs snapping. The two immediately call for their trainer, warning him of some incoming people.
N and Helena turn their attention to their Pokemon, noticing their distress. "Purrloin and Zorua seem like they detect some trainers coming over," Helena spoke, understanding their distress.
N stood up, still gently holding Petilili in his arms. He looked over the brush and saw some of the Team Plasma Grunts looking around the area. "Team Plasma,"
"What!?" Helena's eyes widen, hearing the Pokemon Activist Team was in Lostlorn Forrest. She looks at her Pokemon and Petililies, "Oh no, the Petililies. What should we do N?" Helena asked her friend next to her.
N looked at Helena, normally he would leave her when it comes to Team Plasma. However, he felt the urge to draw them away from Helena and her Pokemon.
The green-haired trainer closes his eyes before handing Petilili to Helena. "Pet?"
"N? What's going on?" Helena asked her new friend.
"I'm going to draw Team Plasma away from you and the Petililies," N explains, calling over his Pokemon to him. "Use that time I give you to go back to Nimbasa City. By then Team Plasma would already leave the City." He explains, returning his Friends back to their Pokeball (much to his dismay.)
"What about you, N? How are you going to-"
N looks over to Helena, smiling at her. "Don't worry about me, just get to safety before Team Plasma finds you." He said, going off to face the Grunts.
Helena nodded, looking down at Petilili N just gave her. "Well, N has entrusted me with you and your friends' safety." She looks at her Pokemon, needing their assistance in getting the Petililies away from Team Plasma.
"Kirlia, Hatenna, Dratini, Ponyta, can I count on you three to help?" Helena asked her Pokemon Partners for their assistance.
The three nodded, going to the Petililies and telling them about Team Plasma. (End Song)
"Where is he? Our Lord was with us when we left that trainer at the Ferris Wheel." A Team Plasma Grunt said, looking around for their King. "Where could he run off to this time?" He asked.
The other Grunt heard some rustling from behind them. "I hear something coming from behind," She turns around, taking out her Pokeball in case it was someone hostile.
Coming out of the bushes, the Grunts relaxed a bit when they saw it was their King who was making the rustle. "Sire!" The male Grunt exclaims.
"Lord N, thank Arceus you're safe." The female Grunt stated as both she and the other Grunt approached the green-haired trainer. "Where on Earth did you go, my Lord?" She asked the King of Team Plasma.
N gave the two Grunts a blank expression like he always does. "I was simply looking around, spending time with my friends." The trainer explains to his guards. "It's nothing too trivial for you two to be concerned over."
"By my Lord, your safety is our concern." The male Grunt stated. "Without you, our movement to free subjugated Pokemon from people will not happen!" He continues.
"Yes, please have us guard you-"
"Please, that's enough."' N turns around, heading back out on his Journey. "I don't need protection, if I'm going to free the Pokemon then I must do this journey alone with my own merits." He stated, walking back into the brush.
N turns to them once more, "Join up with Zinzolin and the others in Driftveil City, I'm sure he needs some assistance with setting up the safe house." He said to the Grunts behind him.
"Yes, sire!" The two Grunts inclined their heads to their King,
Once N saw his guards off, he turned around to the forest hoping that Helena evaded them. "Let's meet again, Helena." He smiles, "I would like to talk to you some more,"
N chuckles, heading to Driftveil Drawbridge and then to Driftveil City to challenge the Gym Leader, Clay.
AN: How do you like it? Please leave a comment or review.