AN: Enjoy the Chapter, there were some confusing parts with the Sages. So I changed small things about them.
Ch 57 Meeting with Team Plasma
The Shadow Triad appeared in another Chamber within Chargestone, the leader of the Triad held Helena in a princess hold. "We're here,"
The Shadow Triad Leader gently places Helena down on the ground,
Helena turns to the Shadow Triad, peeved that they have practically kidnapped her from her friends and Mentor. "Why did you take me away from my friends?" She asked, not letting her kidnapping phase her.
"Lord Rood wishes to speak with you," The Shadow Triad member with his hair covering his right eye answered the black-haired girl.
"Is there anything else you can tell me other than who wanted to talk to me?" Helena glares at the Shadow Triad with his hair over his right eye.
The one with white wavey hair answers the black-haired girl, "We only do tasks requested by the Seven Sages and the King of Team Plasma." He said,
"Indeed, you three have done your job." Helena turns to the Cave's next corridor and sees an elderly man in brown robes walking out of the corridor with two Grunts following him. "You three may leave, I would like to speak with this young girl." The Sage of Team Plasma ordered the Shadow Triad.
"Yes, Lord Rood." The three said in unison, vanishing from the Sage and Helena.
Helena saw them disappear, leaving her alone with Rood and the Grunts. "What do you want," She said, trying her best to be brave. But to be honest with herself, she's a bit scared.
Rood looks at Helena, inclining his head to the young trainer, "My dearest apologies, young Lady. The Shadow Triad tends to act suddenly, often scaring others with their disappearing act." The Sage explains. "Allow me to make up for their actions with my introduction. My name is Rood of the Seven Sages. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms. Potter."
"Same, but you didn't answer my question." The Ability User asked once more, "Why did you have the Shadow Triad or something kidnapped me from my friends?" Helena asked.
"It's simple, my dear. All I want to do is to ask some simple questions." Rood stated, giving a Grandfatherly smile at the young girl.
Helena looks around, seeing that the two Plasma Grunts are ready to interfere if she decides to fight back. From their looks of them, those two seem to be strong.
She also knows that running is out of the question, the Shadow Triad might be hiding in the shadows. The only option for her to take is to answer the questions Rood has for her. "Fine, what do you want to ask me?" Helena asked.
"The questions are rather simple, my dear," Rood said, placing his hand behind his back. "Now, shall we start?" The Sage asked the black-haired girl.
Helena nodded, waiting for the first question.
"My first question is what's your perspective on People and Pokemon?" Rood asked his first question.
"My perspective?" Helena questions before answering the Sage. "My perspective of people and Pokemon is that both depend on each to live a peaceful life." The black-haired girl answered the brown-robed man.
Rood nodded, accepting Helena's answer, and put a mental note. "Interesting, let me ask why you believe that. Why do you believe Pokemon and People should be together?" The Sage asked, curious why she had that belief.
"I've been through many places and seen many Pokemon enjoying being with People." Helena stated, "I've come from a place where Pokemon are rarely seen and lack what my Town has. Happiness." She stated, defending her belief.
"But can you really be happy when you know the Pokemon that People captured in small Balls?" The Sage asked Helena, "Can you really be certain that Pokemon are truly happy?" He asked the young trainer,
Rood continues with his questioning, trying to let Helena see their way of things. "Team Plasma is not the Villain, Ms. Potter." The brown-robed man stated, "We only want the best for the Pokemon who are unjustly caught by the stereotype of trainers. Liberate them from this cycle."
Helena closes her eyes, remembering the times she met and catch her Pokemon Partners. She opens her emerald eyes, looking at the old man. "Let me ask you something, have your group ever asked the Pokemon if they want to be liberated?" She asked,
The two Grunts flinched, turning to each other and then at one of the Seven Sages.
Rood was also taken aback, never had someone asked that question before. "W-Well, Lord Ghetsis believe-"
"Forget what the man said and ask yourselves," Helena said, looking at the three. "You all been to the Cities of Unova. I admit there are a few trainers that abuse their Pokemon, but the majority of trainers truly care for their Pokemon."
"What are you saying?" A Grunt asked,
Helena smiles, "What I'm saying, is through your travels to spread the teachings of Pokemon Liberation. Before Ghetsis's appearance, have you ever seen something negative when it comes to People and Pokemon together?" She asked the members of Team Plasma in front of her.
The young girl places her hand on her heart. "For me, whenever I'm taking a break or eating, I let my Pokemon out to get some fresh air." Helena stated, "I'm aware Pokemon needs fresh air at times, and I'm sure all trainers do that too. So let me ask you again, is it bad for People and Pokemon to be together?"
Rood was at a loss for words, what this girl said was true. Never once had he seen Pokemon mistreated by People, this must be what made Ghetsis interested in the girl before him.
The two Grunts looked at Rood having an inner turmoil with the young trainer's beliefs. "Lord Rood, are you all right?" He asked,
"Y-Yes, i-it seems that we have accomplished what we came here to do." Rood cleared his throat, turning around to the end of the chamber. He looks over to Helena one last time, "Do be careful when exiting Chargestone Cave. It may be a route that trainers take to the next Town, but it has twists and turns that anyone might get hurt."
The member of the Seven Sages looks at his Guards, indicating they are leaving.
With that, Helena was alone in an unknown chamber of Chargestone Cave. She lets out a hard sigh of relief that the confrontation was over,
Helena looked around, unsure where she was. "Seems like those three won't take me back to the Base Camp," She sighs, looking around the chamber she was in. She looks down at the path that Team Plasma went down. "Better not there,"
She turns around, heading to the opposite side where Rood and his Guards went down.
The black-haired girl looks around, searching for anything resembling an exit to the outside. However, the turns she made all led to another chamber.
Helena sighs, scratching her head at another route further down the Cave. "This is going nowhere, Chargestone Cave is really a maze." She sighs, turning back to where the Shadow Triad took her. "Maybe I should head back to…to…"
The young Researcher looked around, seeing that she was lost. "Where did I go exactly?" Helena asked, seeing there was three pathway leading to different paths within Chargestone Cave.
"Oh, I can't even remember where I even went through!" Helena's eyes twitch, unsure which path she exactly came from. She then thought of an idea of where she exactly came from. "Wait, let me try-"
Helena quickly took out her Rotom Phone, hoping she could call Adam and the others. When she looked at her Rotom Phone, she saw that she doesn't have any signal. She sighs, seeing that there's no way to contact her friends. "No signal, I should've known that the Electromagnetic Field here would interfere with the signals." She sighs,
Suddenly Helena heard someone's footsteps came walking from behind her. 'Footsteps? Did they change their minds and bring me with them?' Helena thought, swiftly turning around expecting Grunts of Team Plasma.
"Helena," The young girl opens her eyes, seeing N standing behind her with a Joltik resting on his shoulder.
"N!" Helena exclaims, not expecting to meet the green-haired trainer so soon after they met back in Lostlorn Forest.
N blinks at the black-haired girl, "What are you doing here this far in Chargestone Cave?" The green-haired trainer asked the young Researcher before him.
"Oh, um…I…I was kinda got kidnapped by three members of Team Plasma and brought to one of the leaders. Rood, I think his name was." Helena explains to the trainer before him.
N's eyes widen, hearing what Helena told him. He didn't expect Rood to go against his wishes to handle the situation on his own, 'Did Rood order the Shadow Triad to take her to Rood? No, it can't be. Rood doesn't have that authority over them other than me and Ghetsis…wait…did Ghetsis-'
"N?"
The green-haired trainer blinks, hearing Helena calling his name. "Are you okay? You're staring into nothing like you are in deep thought." Helena commented, tilting her head innocently.
N smiles, hiding his inner conflict with what has occurred in the Cave. "It's nothing to be concerned over, Helena." He cleared his throat, moving away from this conversation. "Anyways, are you lost by any chance, Helena? I heard you talking to yourself back where I came from." He said.
"Ah, right, I might be lost," Helena answered her friend, looking back at the three fork tunnels. "I'm trying to find a way back to Professor Juniper's Base Camp or an exit so I can call them." She continues with her answer.
N nodded, "I see," The green-haired trainer said, looking at Helena. He looks at her, feeling responsible that she has found herself in this situation.
Looking at Helena one last time, he could tell that she was lost. Pondering a few moments, he decided to take the responsibility for his oversight. "I think I can help you with getting to an exit to call your friends." N offered to help the young Researcher.
Helena looks at the trainer she met countless times. "Are you sure, N? Don't you have something to do here?" She asked N, not wanting to intrude on whatever he was doing.
"It's fine, I was just letting my friend here get some food." N points to Joltik sitting on his shoulder. "The Electricity here is his favorite meal,"
"Of course, I've seen a lot of Electric-type Pokemon living and feeding off the Electricity that this Cave produces," Helena commented, smiling at the small yellow Spider resting on N. "But are you sure? You helped me a lot, and I haven't done anything to repay you."
N looks over to the Attaching Pokemon on his shoulders, "Joltik, if you don't mind; do you think you can take us to the nearest exit of the Caves?" The green-haired trainer asked.
"Joltik!" The Electric/Bug-type responded happily to his trainer's request.
"Thank you, my friend." N smiles at his friend, scratching the little Pokemon under his chin. He then turns to Helena, telling her what Joltik said. "Joltik said he can show us the exit,"
Helena approaches N, looking at Joltik who offered his assistance. "Thank you, Joltik. I'm grateful for your assistance." She smiles, receiving a gleeful reaction from the Duel-type.
"Joltik! Joltik!" The Electric/Bug-type points to the direction to the right, indicating that was the way to the exit.
Both Helena and N look in the direction where Joltik was also pointing. "He said the exit is that way." They looked at each other, realizing they spoke in unison.
They blinked at each other before laughing it off. N took a deep breath before moving onwards to the exit of the Cave.
Both N and Helena walk through the chamber of Chargestone Cave, following wherever Joltik was pointing to.
Helena felt the silence was a bit awkward, she looks up at N to converse to pass the time. "Did you encounter Team Plasma while in Chargestone Cave?" She asked her friend.
"I have my fair share of encounters," N lied, fully aware of where the Grunts are in the Cave. His blue eyes shift to the back, sensing that the Shadow Triad was trailing them. "Though recently I haven't seen them around."
"Hmmm…maybe they are at a certain part of the Cave system." Helena ponders, a bit worried about her friends. But she knows they can handle themselves, seeing they are capable trainers.
Helena looks up, seeing N and his Joltik a bit further from where she was. N turns around to the black-haired girl. "Helena don't fall back behind, you're aware of how easily you can be lost here." The green-haired trainer warns Helena,
"R-Right!" Helena quickly caught up to N, appreciating him for stopping for her to catch up with him.
The two trainers walk through the chambers, making right and left turns. They were walking for a while, and after a few more steps both Helena and N made it to the other side of Chargestone Cave.
They exited the Cave, now entering a Forest area right outside of Floccesy Town. Helena looks around, seeing they have made it out of Chargestone Cave. "Now you can try calling your friends to know where they are." N looks over to Helena, informing her that she can try to call the Research Team.
"All right, let me try." Helena took out her Rotom Phone, dialing Professor Ceder's Rotom Phone. She crosses her arms, watching as her Phone was trying to call her Mentor.
Soon the Rotom Phone answered back, but it wasn't the Professor.
-ZZZ- I'm sorry, but the person you're trying to reach is out of range. Please try again later. -ZZZ-
Helena groans at the automatic voice message she received. "They must be deep within Chargestone Cave. I can't get through to them." She said to the King of Team Plasma.
"Seems so…" N commented, taking a look around their surroundings.
"We can't stay out here for long, if we do and they don't find us then it'll be dark." The black-haired girl stated, trying to find a way to get around their situation.
N knew Helena had a point, he needed to find somewhere for Helena to stay before he goes and tell Hilda of her whereabouts. He then sighs, knowing exactly where they are; turning to Helena, he proceeds to inform her where they can rest. "There's a place nearby that we can rest at."
Helena turns to N, hearing his suggestion. "Is it your home by any chance, N?" The black-haired girl asked.
N started to make his way toward the place he'd mentioned. "In a way," He answered as Helena followed behind him.
"It's a place where I discovered when my Sisters and I first venture from our Home." N smiles at the memory of when the three of them went exploring while scouting what Unova was like with the Grunts. "It's a private place that only a few know; a home away from home you can say."
"Are you sure I can stay there? That place belongs to your Family," Helena asked, not feeling right to intrude on N's Family.
The green-haired trainer looks back at Helena, giving a small smile. "It's all right, as long as I allowed it, then they will oblige." N ensure the young Researcher,
Helena still feels like she was intruding on N's Family, "If you're sure, N."
The three continued their way to N's place without any issues. They soon arrive at a small cottage in the middle of the Forest.
The cottage itself was humble and yet eerie with the plant life growing on the walls. There were no fences nor roads, just a dirt path leading to the entrance.
Helena looks around, getting a sense of one with nature vibe in N's place. Her eyes then caught many Pokemon peering through the brush, hiding away from her upon her gaze. "These Pokemon, they don't get a lot of visitors here often." She commented.
"Correct, the Pokemon here are from those who abuse and hurt them." N frowns, explaining why they were hiding. "My Family and I make it our priority to bring our Friends here where they can recover and live peacefully." The green-haired trainer explains, turning to face Helena.
Helena looks at the Pokemon around her, feeling sorry for these Pokemon. She then smiles at N for helping them through their tough times. "Well, they all are in good hands if you and your Family are looking after them, N."
N smiles softly at the compliment Helena gave to him and his Sister. He was about to speak when the door opened gently,
Helena saw a girl around her age coming out of the cottage. "N? I didn't expect you to be here." The girl spoke.
The girl greeted N has pink smooth hair, and brown eyes, and wearing a white dress with a pink apron, a green shawl, and pink slip-on shoes.
The pink-haired girl then noticed Helena, frowning at her presence. "N, who is this trainer with you? You know well that this is a secret place for the injured Pokemon here." She stated, giving off, that Helena was not welcome here.
"Anthea, Helena is a friend of mine. I can vouch she's a good person." N vouches for Helena, making Anthea welcome her. "She's staying here for a bit until I can find her friends."
Helena smiles at the pink-haired girl respectfully, "It's nice to meet you, Anthea. Thank you for letting me stay for a bit."
Anthea sighs, obliging her Brother's request. "Very well, she can stay until you find her Friends." The pink-haired girl said, "But she has to release her Pokemon from their Pokeballs. Concordia and I don't like it when Pokemon are held in captivity in there."
"O-Of course, I understand." Helena took out her five Pokeballs, releasing her Partners.
Kirlia, Dratini, Hatenna, Ponyta, and her newest addition, Petilili were all outside their Pokeball. They looked confused at where they were before Helena kneeled to their level. "Now I want all of you to be respectful while we're staying here, okay?"
They all cried, happily following their Partner's instructions.
N approached Helena, taking notice of Petilili among her Team. "Isn't that the Petilili from Lostlorn Forest? Why is she with you?" He asked, getting a bit worried if he was wrong about Helena.
"Oh," Helena gently held Petilili in her arms, showing her to N. "Petilili followed me back to Nimbasa City after you left. She said that she wanted to go with me on my Journey." She explains why the Bulb Pokemon was with her.
"Is that true?" N asked,
"Pet! Pet!" Petilili nodded, supporting Helena's claim.
"Kirlia! Kirlia!" Kirlia and the others supported what their trainer said, ensuring nothing was wrong.
N nodded, seeing that these Pokemon are supporting Helena's words. "I see, so you don't mind being captured, Petilili?" He asked the Grass-type Pokemon in Helena's arms.
Petilili shook his head, not minding that she has a trainer. "Pet,"
Anthea was surprised to hear that Petilili was willing to be captured in a Pokeball and was happy to be with Helena. "How interesting, never I heard a Pokemon goes willingly with a trainer and was happy about it before." She commented, unsure what to make of it.
"Ah, you see, I always ask a Pokemon if they want to come with me before capturing them." Helena explains to the pink-haired girl, "And every time I do, they're okay with it."
Helena's Pokemon nodded, supporting her once more.
"I see…then please come in. I'll make some tea for you and some snacks for your Friends." Anthea welcomed Helena and her Pokemon inside the cottage,
The Ability User looks at N, wondering if he's coming. "N? Are you coming in?" Helena asked.
"Not this time, I'm going to search for your Friends in Chargestone Cave," N stated, seeing that she was in good hands with his Sisters. "I'll be back soon,"
"Oh, okay then." Helena smiles at Anthea before they enter the cottage to have tea.
N turns to Chargestone Cave, heading back there to find Helena's friends. His blue eyes look at Joltik still sitting on his shoulders, "Joltik, do you mind helping me once more in search of Professor Juniper's group?"
"Joltik!" The Duel-type nodded, happy to help his Friend.
"Thank you, my friend." N smiles, heading back to Chargestone Cave.
AN: How do you like it? Please leave a comment or review.