A/N: Okay, time for a (hopefully) less depressing chapter. And to feature everyone's favorite part of Black 2/White 2: Poké Stars Studio! ...okay, maybe not everyone's. Honestly, I feel like if it wasn't forced to progress the story, people wouldn't be apprehensive with it. It could have been introduced by having to go fetch Roxie's dad and leave it open to do whenever the player wanted to. Especially when you can get free healing items after your first movie finished ('cause, you know, having free healing items given to you any time you do this little thing is good for anyone doing a Nuzlocke as you won't have to worry about money). Anyway, enough rambling. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's nor Pokémon. Both go to their respective owners. I only claim my OCs. And prepare the soap for Ren's potty mouth.

Chapter 7:

(Yusei's POV)

The doctor had discharged Ren once his fever had cleared up, but Toil was kept a little longer just to be sure. Argen's shoulder thankfully healed up thanks to the Center's Audino and the medicine he received. I was advised to keep him out of battles for a bit to make sure his shoulder fully healed. That wouldn't be an issue, since I'm sure the little display from the other day probably scared enough of the Team Plasma members from attempting to attack again for now.

However, Ren was still withdrawn. After what he had revealed with using that ability the first time, it must have brought up the trauma and guilt from that day he carried. I wanted to find some way to distract him at least for a day to not end up wallowing in that pain. The only problem was figuring out what he'd like. Unlike with my friends, I was still getting to know Ren and figuring out things with him. Obviously, Pokémon battles were off the list. One due to the fact we got out of a nasty fight with Team Plasma not too long ago which prompted the bad memories to re-arise, and two Argen was in no condition to practice battle along side that I couldn't risk Stardust being seen.

While I was out walking around, I overheard a few people excitedly talking about something called Poké Star Studios opening. The studios opened in Virbank near the Pokémon Center, so it wouldn't be too far out of the way should something come up with Toil. I did a quick search at the Pokémon Center once getting back to find that they make instant short movies with people and Pokémon as the actors. They're testing using green screens for the surroundings and also for a lot of the really out there movies likes ones involving aliens. It sounded like they were needing a few more actors at the moment and asked for anyone passing through or locals. It sounded like even with there being some Pokémon battles it was less intense than ones in Gym battles or between Trainers. Actually, it seemed more akin to Pokémon Contests like in Sinnoh and Hoenn.

"Poké Star Studios?" Ren said when I brought it up.

"Yeah, I heard it from a few people and looked into it. The Pokémon don't battle as intensely since it's more for show than anything. It might be something to look into while waiting for Roxie to give the go ahead," I replied.

"..."

"You don't have to if you don't want-"

"I want to try it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. It...sounds interesting."

"Okay. We'll go there after lunch and check it out."

"All right."

(Poké Star Studios)

When we entered the place Poké Star Studios resided, it was already bustling with activity. There were some people training the Pokémon for the skits, some practicing lines with costars, and others running around with the costumes for actors. Ren and I had let our Pokémon out to walk beside us. Jason (who was on Ren's shoulder) seemed more interested in what was going on compared to Auren and Emerald. The Servine looked bored while Auren was merely confused. Argen was a mix of Jason's and Auren's reactions.

"A bit small to be doing a lot of movies," Ren murmured.

"From what I read, most of the movie is green-screened to change environments," I answered. "They're still starting out, so they won't grow big like other places for a while."

"Excuse me, are either of you looking to audition right now?" one of the workers came up and asked.

Ren lifted a hand. "Uh, I am."

"Oh thank Arceus! Our last scene didn't do too well with the test audiences, so we've been scrambling to find another actor. Say, is that your Lucario?" He pointed to Auren.

"Yeah, he is."

"Excellent! Normally, we'd give a rental out, but our only Riolu at the moment has come down with a cold, so we'll make an exception for the moment."

"Okay, but I'm not sure how he'll do with acting. I caught him not too long ago."

"Oh, don't worry about it. The other Pokémon will help with that. Now, follow me!"

He lead us to a building that housed a large area that had walls covered in green and cameras pointing at a corner of it. Ren was given a script to read over real quick in preparation. I was allowed to sit on the side during filming with the rest of Ren's Pokémon and Argen so long as we kept quiet once it started. A lot of people got a bit nervous at Argen's size, but they seemed to calm down when he laid down with Emerald and Jason laying either on top (Emerald) or next to him (Jason).

"All right, places everyone!" the director called. "And...action!"

(Ren's POV)

Brycen (or I suppose in this skit, Brycen-Man) sent out a Pawniard onto the green-screen area. He wore a purple and green suit with a green cape and purple face mask. "Go, my Pokémon! Destroy everything in this amusement park! Unleash your power!" he yelled.

That was my cue. I stepped up with Auren in a blue and red outfit with a red mask and yellow cape. "Hold it right there!" I called.

Brycen-Man looked taken aback. "W-Who are you?"

I held the cape with one hand and swept it aside dramatically. "The Messenger of Truths and Ideals, the Lucario Kid enters!" Not sure why I need to have such an entry, but that's what it said in the script. Hope the motion wasn't overkill. "Stop right there, Brycen-Man! I cannot allow your mischief!"

Auren and the Pawniard started squaring off as Brycen said the rest of his lines. "The amusement park...it is merely a moment of a dream. It is the shape people's ideals have taken. I have no use for such ideals." That was when the Pawniard jumped to attack.

Auren easily countered the Pawniard, launching a Force Palm in retaliation. While I wasn't able to hear the voices of the "crowd" in the scene, I was supposed to pretend to hear worried whispers. Auren jumped back to my side after knocking the Pawniard down with one blow. Even though this features a Pokémon battle (a two vs one sort of battle as only Auren was allowed in), this felt a bit more calming and fun compared to the Gym battle with Cheren where a badge stood on the line. Almost like some of the pretend play I used to do with Eric and Jazz before we became Trainers.

"A single hit to KO my Pokémon... You're pretty good, Lucario Kid! Despite that, however, you will get down on your knees before me when I end you with my dark, secret arts!" He pointed the staff he held at me. "Prepare to be finished."

I was quiet for a moment before I let a smirk creep onto my face. "Bring it on!"

Brycen laughed. "Well said! My dark, secret arts enter! Take them and be gone!" The Vullaby that had replaced the Pawniard entered the fray. It went first and aimed its talons at Auren.

Auren lifted up an arm, blocking the Faint Attack. He balled his other paw into a fist which became encased in ice. He punched hard into the Vullaby, sending it flying back. It pretend to get up but wobbled and fell back, fainted. Brycen gasped. "Argh...Braving my secret arts to take out my Pokémon with one hit..."

"Don't you get it, Brycen-Man?! This is an amusement park filled with the ideals of people!" I waved a hand. "Be on your best behavior and go home."

Brycen scowled for a moment before sighing. "Very well. I shall pull back today." He recalled both Pokémon, giving a turn to where his back faced me. "You may be the Messenger of Truths and Ideals, but I am Brycen-Man, the Masked Man of Reality and Phantasm." Brycen turned his head slightly toward me with a glare. "Mark my words, Lucario Kid." He walked out of the camera shot.

I gave enough of a pause to put the crowd's lines in. "Brycen-Man, the Masked Man... What is he planning to do..?"

"Cut! That's a wrap! That was fantastic!" the director called.

(Yusei's POV)

During the performance, I was shocked to see Ren's demeanor lighten up. He had a spark in his eyes that I hadn't seen since joining him, not even during the first Gym battle. It was like seeing the real version of him, not the one that he had been trying to be. Maybe we could come back here, to let Ren unwind and be more like himself.

Ren went back and changed out of the costume and washed the little bit of makeup. He came back up to us. "Whew, oh man that was quite the experience," he sighed. "Hope that was good enough."

"I think you did great," I replied.

"Really? You sure about that? Some of those lines and movements I did felt a bit...much."

"Even if they were, you seemed more like yourself than I've seen lately. I think I'd like to see that more often. Perhaps without the cameras."

Ren's face flushed a little at the comment. He coughed a bit nervously. "Well, uh...I would but uh...I don't do private shows."

I chuckled. "Well, I wasn't trying to say they would be quite so private, Ren. I meant with our partners, or at the Nimbasa musicals."

"Oh, right, that."

"But now that you mentioned it..." I rubbed my chin in thought.

The flush returned with much more red. He let out a squeak. "W-What?!" I lost the seriousness in my face and started laughing. This sent him from being embarrassed to mad. "Oh, screw off, you bastard!"

"You did start it with the 'I don't do private shows.' How would that sound to anyone else?"

"I dunno, but I wasn't meaning that kind of show!"

(Castelia City, Two Years Ago, No One's POV)

"This way, come on!" Burgh, the Castelia Gym Leader, called as the group (Ren, Ellis, Bianca, and Iris) chased the Team Plasma grunt.

The grunt turned on the street leading toward the Gym. However, instead of heading for the Gym, he went toward the building a bit across the street from the building. He ran inside. The grunts posted outside the building, seeing the large group headed by two Gym Leaders, turned tail and followed their comrade. The group pursued into the front lobby.

Inside, the Plasma grunts stood behind three figures, One of the figures was Ghetsis who kept a blank expression as the Trainers piled in. "Well, to what do we owe this visit with the Gym Leader?" he asked.

"Save it, Plasma," Ellis replied. "You know why we're here. Give Munna back to Bianca!"

"I have to wonder what the guiding principal of your group is," Burgh added. "'Take what you want from people' is hardly what I expected from a group claiming to advocate for Pokémon freedom."

Ghetsis didn't seem to be put off by their words. "Tell me, are you familiar with the history of Unova's creation."

"What about it?" Iris questioned. "It's said that a powerful Dragon-type split itself to suit truths and ideals."

"Indeed. The black Dragon-type Pokémon chose a hero and stood with him, baring fangs at all those who opposed his ways. Together, they sought to knit a world for people and Pokémon. So, by bringing back this hero and Pokémon, we can easily create at world that I—I mean, Team Plasma desires."

"Funny, looks like you're doing a crap job at being 'heroes,'" Ren scowled. "More like you're acting like a bunch of bas-"

"Ren, language!" Bianca gasped.

"-thieves."

"Here in Castelia, people have many different ways of thinking and lifestyles to lead, but there's one thing that we all have in common," Burgh stated. "We all care about Pokémon. Even people who meet for the first time can talk about Pokémon. That speech back in Accumula town got me thinking over my relationship with Pokémon. From that day, I swore to myself that I would dedicate myself more strongly to Pokémon!"

"He's right," Ellis said. "What good would separating people and Pokémon do for the world beside make things harder for everyone? Not everyone can handle the responsibilities of a Trainer, but not every Pokémon will know how to survive in the wild either. Shouldn't you instead be helping strengthen the bonds of people and Pokémon instead of severing them?"

"Hmph, so you say. But what about people who thoughtlessly become Trainers and end up hurting their Pokémon due to their lack of skills? Perhaps it would be better if people and Pokémon never were allowed to interact. How else to make sure beings like Pokémon were kept safe?" He waved a hand. "Nevertheless, we shall bow out of this debate. You, there-" He pointed at the grunt still carrying Bianca's Munna's Poké ball. "-give the Pokémon back to the girl."

The grunt hesitated but obeyed the sage. He rolled the ball back to where the group was. Bianca quickly bent down and clutched the Poké ball to her chest in relief. "Oh Munna, thank goodness," she whispered.

"As for you, Trainer..." Ghetsis gave a sharp glare with his uncovered eye at Ellis. "I would highly suggest staying out of Team Plasma affairs from now on. We wouldn't want any...unfortunate accidents in the future, now would we? Until next time..." The grunts threw smoke bombs to cover their exit.

The group covered their eyes, coughing to get the smoke out of their lungs. "Frick! I hate those damned smoke bombs," Ren coughed, rubbing his eyes.

"Well, that at least got them out of having a base here to take any more Pokémon," Ellis muttered.

"It's too bad we couldn't get them taken in, though," Burgh sighed.

"By the way...Ellis, right? What did that man mean by 'staying out of Team Plasma affairs?'" Iris asked.

"Ren and I've run into them a few times, but nothing very major besides tripping their operations," Ellis replied. "Pretty sure any Trainer would help out with that, though."

"Eh, he's just scared you'll kick more of their asses, bro," Ren said with a grin.

"Let's just...get out of here, please?" Bianca said, still clutching the Poké ball. "I don't want to stay here any longer."

"Agreed. I'll alert the authorities to check the building out and make sure they're gone for good," Burgh added. "Perhaps we can find their other bases and get this under control."

(Present Day, Virbank Gym, Ren's POV)

"Whirlipede, Rollout!" Roxie commanded.

"Get in with one more Return, Auren!" I countered.

The Gym was practically a piece of cake. Thanks to Auren's evolution, we didn't have to worry about getting poisoned when he's immune to it. Though, the only thing was that we didn't have a whole lot to counter them with as Auren had yet to learn any super effective moves (I changed out Ice Punch from his arsenal as I didn't see much use for it at the moment with not many opponents coming up were weak to the move that Auren or someone else could counter with a different move).

The Whirlipede came rolling in with another Rollout attack toward Auren. The Lucario jumped out of the way of the wheel-like bug and balled a glowing fist. As soon as the Whirlipede came back around, he smashed the fist into the bug and sent them flying back across the battlefield. They wobbled a bit before landing on their side, knocked out.

"That's it! The Trainer Ren wins the battle and the badge!" the referee shouted.

"Well done, Ren. Of course, that's what I expect from the Trainer that helped keep this Gym from being ransacked," Roxie said as she recalled her Pokémon.

"Eheh...can we not mention that again, please? I don't like recalling high stress situations much," I replied with a grimace.

"Guess I can do that." She walked up to my side of the field, handing the badge. "Here's your second Gym badge. Already one quarter of the way done in the Challenge."

Already, I thought. It felt like I'm taking twice as long in this than my big brother did. But at the same time...should I do this so quick? I don't want to push Emerald and the others so hard that they get hurt. How did El even do this in Kalos alone?

I recalled Auren and headed out. Yusei stood up from his seat when I got into the lobby. "Hey, congrats on the second badge," he greeted.

"Yeah, a lot less stressful with a Lucario," I replied.

"I checked in at the ferry. Looks like the captain is out right now, so it'll be a few days until we can head for Castelia again."

"Oh. Well then, guess we've got a bit of a break, then."

"Everything okay there?"

"Mm...naw, not really." I didn't know whether to tell him that I felt I was going too fast in the League challenge. Considering he managed to do a Gym Challenge with only one Pokémon, he'd probably say that I was going slower than normal or even that I'm just exaggerating things. Maybe it's better to get through this sooner rather than later.

A/N: Ren, stop being such a tsundere. XD Anyway, next time it'll be straight into Castelia City! I'm trying to get these written down when I can, but I've gotten hooked into Legends Arceus recently along with watching The Legend of Vox Machina on Prime Video which has sparked getting onto a fantasy story I've been planning. So yeah, might end up getting behind on this and other stories. X'D Well, the outline for this and at least half of Dragons' Souls is already written, so at least I've got the plans for the next chapters. Just gotta get back to writing the chapters before my mind wanders off. So, new question: if Legends Arceus does do a DLC with an expansion, what Pokémon are you hoping for being added in? Personally, I want to see Hisuian forms for the other starters of the sets for Oshawott, Cyndaquil, and Rowlet. I'd like to see a Hisuian Serperior that's part Dragon. It'd be interesting to see, though I don't think it's going to happen (whether due to Game Freak not putting in one or no DLC in general for the game; not even sure if the leaks are full truthful or not as there were a lot during the other games that proved false so I'm not holding my breath for a DLC until it's confirmed). Maybe I'll draw my own idea for that.