The gang were still in the Pokemon Center. Misty had thrown a hissy fit after Officer Jenny declared the case was closed in front of everyone. N was thankful for that though, as time passed by, he was starting to like Misty's brash and abrasive personality. He agreed that the case was totally not closed. However, Officer Jenny reasoned that without any lead, they could not pick up the case.

"We're on the same page. I like it only as much as you do, but there's little I can do about it. I can file a report and have it running across the system of Jennys but without any leads, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do," Officer Jenny amended, apologetically.

Dr. Fennel had helped diffuse the situation saying that Officer Jenny saying that does not mean she doesn't care about the case anymore. It's more of like getting it on the next phase.

Misty huffed and while N didn't much like it, they have no choice on the matter.

Cilan went outside, saying he has to talk to his brothers with a promise that he'll come by later while Iris was strolling the city to "remove the stress". N was asleep or seemed to be, so Ash approached Misty. N really, really tried not to overhear but no one can fault him that he can hear them.

"What's ruffling your feathers, Mist?"

Misty raised an eyebrow at Ash before sighing, "Ash, every time you get involve in these things, it becomes bigger. We get into the thick of things when we shouldn't have to. After taking a break from journeying with you, I realized how crazy that we, but most especially you, had to save the world, a region, or a city from getting wrecked by forces greater than us!"

N's eyebrows shot upwards as he continued to listen to Misty. Saving the world? N would have scoffed at this concept but seeing as how Ash had this aura of difference around him, N doubted that Misty was lying. Even for a short time, he was getting to know that Misty was someone who spoke her mind and blunt, not afraid of saying the truth. Misty wasn't the type of person who lies.

Ash tried to placate Misty by saying that they happened to be at the right place at the right time.

"Are you mad? Of course, you would think that Ash Ketchum! Legendaries? You can't just help sticking your nose on others' businesses! Brock would always send me pictures of you in imminent danger or your after-incident sessions!"

Legendaries? Pikachu also mentioned it earlier but… Misty, too? This just makes me certain that Ash is a hero, one that would benefit Plas— no. N's thoughts halted when he thought about Plasma again. He wasn't feeling confident about everything anymore, not after he saw one of his people hurting Dr. Fennel's Musharna. He's justifying that those maybe are the only rogues from their ideologies. Yes, that must be it. Rogues.

It became very quiet all of a sudden as if a thick blanket of tension settled in. Misty sighed.

"I know, I can't keep you from doing that and I can't make those incidents stop even if we try our damnedest to avoid them. I wouldn't even dream of it. That makes you, you, Ash Ketchum. But I can't help but worry or hope that sometimes you ask for help. That's all. If they can handle this, then that's one thing that's out of your hand."

N can hear Ash sigh and let out an amused yet tired huff, "I suppose so. Thanks for always caring, Mist."

"Idiot, stop that. That doesn't suit you. You're more Ash when you're out there stupidly saying, 'I'm gonna be the world's greatest Pokemon Master' or 'I know what I'm doing'."

Ash let out an indignant noise which made Pikachu and Misty hysterically laugh. Zorua nudged N and he remembered now to talk to Ash and Misty about them and if they can speak Pokemon seeing how they're so comfortable with understanding their own. However, before it even bore into fruition, Iris entered exclaiming how great that walk was to dismiss the stress that accumulated by the prior incident.

"Waaaah, that was legit the scariest experience I've ever had despite me not doing anything," Iris exclaimed.

Misty snorted, "That's not even half of the things you'll experience if you continue to linger around Ash, that is if you choose to stay with us. You did say you're just gonna show us the way to Striaton."

To which, Ash only answered by blowing a raspberry on Misty. Iris' eyes become distant afterwards and her face became contemplative. Nurse Joy had announced that the other Pokemons were now adequately rested for their journey with Cilan appearing afterwards together with his brothers.

Ash moved to greet them, "Cilan! Cress! Chili! What are you doing here?"

Chili, as energetic and enthusiastic as ever, replied, "Our bro right here talked to us about something!"

Ash, Misty, and Iris were as lost as N was in this.

Cilan, ever the dramatic actor, said, "Now, now. Calm down, Chili. You see, Ash, after we had a battle, I realized I couldn't resist the urge of going in a journey anymore! It's clear that there are more to the pairing of a Pokemon and a trainer than I originally thought, much more! I just know this would help me become an even better Pokemon connoisseur.

"So, now I formally ask, if there is still a place in your party, I would love to come with you, if you'll have me," Cilan said.

Ash was amazed for a while that he can't seem to find the right words to answer.

"Why, yes! Yes, of course, Cilan! Why would you think there are no place anymore?"

Cilan hesitated before answering, "Well, there's Misty, then Iris, then N… so maybe you won't accept me as one of your traveling companions."

Iris and N were bewildered and shocked as Cilan mentioned their names and Misty went to clarify, "Oh no, Cilan, they really weren't our traveling companions. You see, Iris here, only agreed to guide us from Nuvema to Striaton and we really just met N today. Although, if Iris want to extend her stay and N will join us, then they are more than welcome."

It was Cilan's turn to don a shocked expression, "Wow. Surprising! Your dynamics work together and even with diverse personalities, you mesh really well with each other!"

"Well, if it's too much of a bother, then I'd like to stick around," Iris nonchalantly said while munching on the apple on her hand that she got from who knows where.

N was both flattered and confused that Cilan considered him a part of Ash's party and Misty declaring that he's open to join them if he'd want it. Do I want it? One, they are trainers who aren't averse to Pokemon battles. That is the downside. He will be subject to seeing Pokemons suffer. But Ash seems like a different kind of trainer that I'd met, Misty too. I'm curious about their dynamic. Legendaries? Saving the world? That seems to be where a hero like I should be. He looked down at Zorua and Zorua was already looking at him with big, pleading eyes.

N sighed inwardly. Of course. Figure that Zorua would like that.

Shyly, N asked, "Would that really be okay? Zorua and I joining you?"

Misty tilted her head with a teasing smile and her hands on his hips, "You had to ask?" at the same time Ash answered, "Of course! The more the merrier!"

Cress chipped in the conversation, "Well, that's settled, then."

The group turned their heads towards Chili and Cress.

"Don't worry about the gym, bro! Cress and I can handle it! Now, go get your dream!"

Cress nodded, "We want you to be the best and greatest connoisseur that no one ever was."

Cilan smiled at his brothers. Chili and Cress then turned towards Ash, Misty, Iris, and N as they bowed, "Please take care of our brother!"

Ash beamed.

"You don't have to ask!"

They broke off for a while and Misty approached Ash.

"Are we really sure about this Ash? We've never had to travel with more than four companions before," Misty whispered.

Ash furrowed his eyebrows, confused.

"What do you mean? Do you not want them to come?"

"It's not like that. I'm just checking if you don't have any doubts in this. You know, with all the legendary stuff. And, sooner or later, you might want to introduce them to Giratina. You can't keep it always a secret, you know."

Ash went quiet for a moment and became contemplative. Then, after a moment, his eyes and face lit up, immediately brightening that Misty had to suppress a smile.

"Of course! I can sense they're good people, Misty! You don't have to worry! I'm sure Giratina agrees."

Ash can only hear a soothing rumble in their telepathic connection which can only mean that the dragon of symmetry and reversions agree with his statement.

The group decided to stay in Striaton City for a day longer to rest up as they were all exhausted. Ash, naturally, hated this idea and was adamant to leave but was shot down by Misty saying that even if he wasn't much tired, his Pokemon were. A gym battle and then being in action at the Dreamyard, Misty said with finality that the group deserve to rest.

"Well, when you put it like that… Fine. We'll rest up," Ash grumbled, succumbing to Misty's reasons. Misty was smug about it.

Cilan was kind enough to offer the group Striaton City Gym as a place to rest to which the rest were placated enough to agree. They were currently sitting in a table in a Pokemon Centre when their discussion flitted over to the skirmish at the Dreamyard.

In a eureka moment, Cilan exclaimed, "Say, I think I got lost in excitement earlier but did that Meowth talk human?"

N stilled at this. Yes, that specific Meowth talked… human. Why didn't that register on his mind before?

"Yeah, that Meowth is a pain in our ass," Misty huffed, to which she gained looks from N and Cilan. Alarmed from the former, and curiosity from the latter.

Ash tutted, "Misty, that's not nice."

"Well, Ash, I'm not as noble as you are. Team Rocket is annoying," Misty grumbled.

Ash donned a wistful smile at that, "Yeah. Annoying. But sweet."

"Pika pika."

N, Iris, and Cilan exchanged looks with one another before Iris just burst out the question the three of them had.

"Back up, for a moment. I know we've encountered them frequently as of late, but why are you two talking as if you've known them for years?" Iris asked.

Ash and Misty shared a look at that and both smiled as their eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Team Rocket, those three specifically, have been following me since the very first day of my journey. Right, buddy?" Ash began as he scratched Pikachu's ears and got a soft chaa in response.

"Jessie, James, and Meowth – those are their names – were supposed to be hijacking a Pokemon Center in Viridian City but as fate had it, Misty, Pikachu, and I were there to protect the patients and the Pokemon. Pikachu got supercharged by more Pikachus who were powering up the center and they were defeated. They thought that power was all Pikachu, so they targeted us," Ash chuckled in amusement while Misty rolled her eyes as she snorted.

"Ash, even I can testify that Pikachu is a special Pikachu of its kind, and I bet you that's what those three idiots saw – which is the smartest thought they've ever had. Anyway, ever since that day they've followed and attempted to kidnap Pikachu at least once a day," Misty pondered as Pikachu climbed on her shoulders and licked her face.

The Unovan natives were horrified, though. N, particularly, so much that he asked, "Shouldn't you have reported them to authorities?"

Ash snorted in amusement.

"They're already wanted people."

"But then you must have been terrified while they terrorized you?" Cilan asked in horror.

"We should have and yet, we weren't. You see, whenever something happens, I could always count on them to be reliable and save my ass. They're not bad people, too, despite what Misty make them seem like," Ash muttered as he thought.

Misty blew him a raspberry while she defended herself, "I didn't say they're bad people, I said they were annoying."

Ash snorted, "Yeah, I guess you're right. You're terrible than them."

WHACK!

It happened so fast. Misty had on her hand a wooden hammer and whacked it on Ash's head, a tick formed on her temple. Pikachu was laughing so hard; the same could not be said to Axew and Zorua. The Unovan natives were horrified and confused at the same time.

"Say that one more time, Ash Ketchum. I dare you."

It took a few minutes before Misty was placated and they were back to their discussion.

Misty sighed, "Well, I can't deny though that they've been with you longer than I have or Brock did. Still, there's something different about them now."

Ash nodded; his face now serious. "Yeah. One, they're not bothering us as much as they did before and have you seen them earlier? They are working on something other than us. I can't expect them not to though, after all, they are members of Team Rocket still."

Cilan chirped in, latching on to one of the underlying implications of the conversation and wanting to stter the conversation away from Team Rocket, "Oh, it seems like you were traveling for a bit now?"

Misty laughed. "A bit? Try maybe six years."

Iris's eyes bulged. "Six years? You've been travelling for six years?"

"Not me, Ash. I only accompanied him for two and a half years, but yeah, ever since he was ten years old, he's been traveling from Kanto, Orange Isles, Johto, Whirl Isles, Hoenn, the Battle Frontier, Sinnoh, and now in Unova," Misty stated as if it was the obvious thing in the world.

Ash, on the other hand, was embarrassed and rubbed the back of his neck as the Unovan natives stared at him with something akin to wonder (Iris), impressive (Cilan), and curiosity (N). Iris almost immediately snuck a snide remark, "If you've been traveling for six years, how come you're such a kid."

Ash countered by blowing a raspberry at Iris.

"Wow, Ash! That's a lot! But why don't you have other Pokemon? I know you got Larvitar and Gible and forgive me for assuming but I'd have thought you'd catch a lot more Pokemon from traveling over four regions," Cilan inquired, his brow raised.

"Well, you see, usually I'd like to start with a blank slate every region. I wanna meet new Pokemon and friends, I can hardly do that if I used the same Pokemon I had before. Pikachu's the constant though, since he's my partner," Ash explained to which Pikachu responded with a proud "Pika, pika!" (Damn right!)

"Ooooh, that's why! I wondered why you're not just acing gyms using Butterfree and Pidgeot," Iris chimed loudly. N and Cilan looked at her in shock, then back to Ash.

Cilan squealed, "You have a Butterfree and Pidgeot? And you brought them with you?! Can I see them?! Please Ash, I'm dying to know!"

It was at this moment that everyone knew just how excitable Cilan is when it comes to Pokemon, Misty surmised that's one thing Iris, Cilan, and Ash share, seeing as how excitable Iris was when she saw Pikachu, Gible, and Larvitar.

Ash chuckled fondly at Cilan's outburst and brought out his PokeDex. While he worked on that, he stated, "I didn't bring them, though I had them for a while in Unova because I learned about Battle Clubs. I figured that my Pokemon in the lab would have wanted to be with me from time to time and what better time to do that than in Don George's? Here, these are pictures of Butterfree and Pidgeot."

Cilan and N looked at the screen of the PokeDex and despite N's aversion to equipment that are used as reason to justify Pokemon's imprisonment, he can't help but take a look at Pokemon that weren't usually found in Unova.

The first picture consisted of a green worm with Pikachu, then a green cocoon facing another green cocoon, the third picture being a younger Ash holding his arms up as a butterfly Pokemon with a purple body, large red, compound eyes, and magnificent patterns on its wings perched on its shoulders. Ash was clearly laughing while the Butterfree looked at Ash lovingly.

"This was taken right after Butterfree evolved. As a Caterpie, he wanted to fly. I understood him as if I knew him for a long time, and he did evolve less than a day apart!" Ash exclaimed, clearly lost on his nostalgia.

Cilan spluttered, "Less than a day?! That's… unbelievable!"

Misty patted Cilan on his shoulders, "You'll soon take those words back if you plan to stick around Ash longer. I know because I was there."

The next picture was of Pidgeotto perching itself on Ash's shoulders.

"Funny thing, after I caught Caterpie, I saw a Pidgeotto and brought it out to fight. Misty scolded me, even though she's afraid of bugs, she reprimanded me saying sending out Caterpie was suicide," Ash exclaimed, mirth and amusement laced on his voice.

"He was a total idiot back then," Misty huffed as if annoyed but her soft smile said otherwise.

The next picture consisted of Butterfree, a pigeon Pokemon, Pikachu, a Pokemon with a bulb on its back, a fire salamander Pokemon, and a blue turtle with sunglasses posing for the camera.

"I was so happy that finally I already have a complete team," Ash said.

The penultimate picture consists of a swarf of Butterfrees flying away towards a sunset, with Ash's Butterfree wearing a yellow scarf while the last one was of a huge bird of prey with thick, magnificent plumage leading a flock of Pidgeys and Pidgeottos.

"These events, I was heartbroken because Butterfree fell in love with another Butterfree and the last one was Pidgeot being a leader of a flock. But in my heart, I knew what's the right thing to do. I let them go, much as it caused me pain," Ash said, gently. N's heart skipped a beat as he heard Ash saying he released his Pokemons for their sake and for their good. Hope blossomed in N's chest.

Cilan's eyes were shining as he watched Ash, "Remarkable. I knew you were different but I think this is the first time I met a Trainer like you."

Iris was frowning. It was an absurd concept for her but not as much because she understood him. She was baffled though because she knew if she were in Ash's shoes and she had to let go of Axew, she wouldn't have done it. She bit her lip but finally asked, "Why though? And how do you do it?"

Ash locked eyes with Iris and everyone noticed a subtle change in the trainer's eyes, as if he were a wise old man imparting a knowledge to younger students.

"There are times you have to choose between yourself and the good of others. My Pokemon are my friends, and I want them to be happy, even if it isn't with me."

N's heart was beating fast while Cilan looked so impressed with the reasoning. Misty only donned a soft smile while Iris consumed this information.

"So, you have a lot of Pokemon other than the ones you have, other than Butterfree and Pidgeot? Where are they?" N asked, his curiosity shining through. He couldn't have found a more fitting human that embodies Plasma's ideals. Maybe, he was reaching here but he had high hopes that Ash would have released his Pokemon if need be.

"I left them with Professor Oak. His laboratory has a massive backyard that leads to a forest and lake that's perfect for Pokemon! Not everyone there is under his care, mind, but he takes on the responsibility together with Tracey," Ash boasted proudly.

Before Cilan and N can insert a word, Iris loudly interjected, "But that can't be! I saw Pidgeot and Butterfree, you can't have released them!"

N and Cilan looked dumbfounded. Yeah, that was weird.

Ash only showed a serene smile.

"They found me."

The Unovan natives blinked.

"What?" "I'm sorry?"

"They found me. They searched for me. They waited for me to come back from my travels. They wanted to join me again, so I let them," Ash elaborated.

"I can't just push them away. I'd do what my Pokemon would ask of me, I'd give them the world if they asked. Just as I know you'd do everything for Axew, Iris, or give Pansage his best meals, Cilan. Or how you'd protect Zorua at all costs, N. Heck, even Misty here who gets annoyed by Psyduck, I know she would swim across oceans if it meant Psyduck's happiness."

"You care for your Pokemon deeply as do I. It's that simple. They love me and I love them just as equally. That's how it should be, how humans and Pokemon co-exist."

They have not noticed how their breaths have hitched or how they were enraptured by Ash's speech. They didn't notice Pikachu dozing off as he climbed off Misty's shoulders and settled on Ash's arms. Axew and Zorua looked at each other before turning to their own trainers – friend on Zorua's case – and hugged them tightly.

Both humans and Pokemon knew that what Ash had said was true. N's mind was running a mile a minute. It's… not really absurd but is it really that simple…? Can humans and Pokemon co-exist like that? He could not deny that in one day his worldview was shaken up by Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu. He could not suppress the feeling because even when he doesn't look at Ash, he catches Misty, and Iris, and Cilan, who he knew deep in his heart care for their Pokemon.

Dr. Fennel, Munna, and Musharna, certainly share a bond, too. Nurse Joy and her Audino working on the counter right now, giggling on some shared inside jokes only between two of them. Somehow, Plasma's ideal doesn't seem to hold that strong or that true anymore. Zorua knew – felt – the inner turmoil N was having and perhaps, that was good.

N should relax rather than stressing over being a good king or being good enough for Ghetsis or being a stupid hero. He just wanted N as he is. Kind, compassionate, and most of all, his friend.

Giratina watched this from the surface reflection of the round mirror on the corner of the room. He released an amused huff. The Dragon of Symmetry and Reversions was reminded why he chose to be captured and joined this remarkable trainer on his quest. He inspires both Pokemon and people alike. You really are a different kind of trainer, Ash Ketchum.