"Guys, I think I see a light up ahead!" Ash exclaimed.
"Let's hope it's actually an exit and not just a pool of water illuminated again." Rosa said, as the trio made their way up.
"I still say that lake was too bright for nothing to be off." Elliot commented.
"Hello again Ash." N said calmly.
"N, are you following us?!" Rosa snapped.
"Rosa, he beat us here, technically we followed him." Elliot pointed out.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble this time. I was simply on my way to check on a trusted friend who I was told ran into issues." N said calmly. "But since we are here, care for another rematch Ash?"
"Fine, but no fancy work this time." Ash said angrily. "No switches and your Pokemon stays in until it faints."
"Very well Ash." N said calmly. "A four on four will suffice for me this time."
"Darmanitan I choose you!" Ash called out.
"Ferroseed come out." N responded.
"Darmanitan use Belly Drum!"
Darmanitan let out a yell, banging her fists on her chest as N's Ferroseed just sat there.
"Attack!" Ash called out.
"No, I do not need to." N said eerily calm.
"Fine, Darmanitan use Flame Wheel!"
Darmanitan tucked their limbs into a ball, rolling at high speeds right into Ferroseed, easily knocking out the small Pokemon.
"What's going on? I mean I know it's supposed to be a battle, but it doesn't feel like one." Rosa commented.
"I'm not sure myself." Elliot admitted.
"Your battle style is far harsher than it used to be, where is your love for your Pokemon." N questioned.
"It's still right here!" Ash argued. "But I don't tolerate people like you trying to say you're in the right when you side with people like Team Plasma! You had good goals N!"
"And we still do, you just can't see the full picture." N retorted. "Klink come out and use Gear Grind."
The two gears of Klink flung out and around, slicing back and forth across Darmanitan.
"Darmanitan use Flame Wheel!"
Darmanitan engulfed herself in flames, slamming into Klink, knocking them out instantly as well.
"This might sound odd, but Darmanitan seems a lot stronger than she should be." Rosa pointed out.
"It's the move Belly Drum." Elliot commented. "It maxes out her attack at a great cost, for half of her health."
"So Darmanitan is at her strongest possible right now?" Rosa asked.
"Yes, but she's at a huge risk already." Elliot commented. "With her health half gone from Belly Drum, and then Ferroseed's ability causing damage on direct contact and Klink's attack, it has to be adding up."
"Yes, and the Ash I knew never would have used a move to cause such pain to his Pokemon like that, or were you lying about caring for them?" N questioned.
"I care for all of my Pokemon N! Darmanitan learned Belly Drum on her own, that was her choice not mine!" Ash argued.
"But you chose to use that move." N retorted. "Tynamo come out."
"Darmanitan use Rollout!"
"Tynamo use Thunder Wave!"
Tynamo sent out a wave of static electricity, stopping Darmanitan in her tracks.
"Tynamo use Spark!"
"Darmanitan use Hammer Arm!"
Tynamo zoomed about, slamming into Darmanitan as she swung her arm at the small electric type destroying the ground around her.
"Tynamo use Spark."
"Darmanitan use Flame Wheel!"
Darmanitan engulfed herself in flames, before being struck once more by Tynamo, the two being knocked out from the other's elemental attacks.
"Darmanitan trusted you with every choice, and in the end you let her down in failure." N said calmly. "Are you sure I am still the on the bad side?"
"Darmanitan took down three of your Pokemon on her own!" Ash said.
"Yes, but you and your Pokemon are fighters, should she not have had an easier time if you hadn't taken such a risk at the start?" N questioned.
"I stand by my decisions even when the chips are all played." Ash said. "I hope you can say the same. Pikachu let's end this fight together."
"Pi." Pikachu said in a level of agreement, leaping forward.
"Very well, Axew come out." N said calmly.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Axew use Dragon Claw."
Pikachu leapt forward, swinging his tail down on the Axew as the small dragon slashed back at him.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Axew use Dragon Rage!"
Pikachu sent out a bolt of electricity, piercing through the blue flames from Axew before striking the small dragon, knocking them back.
"Axew use Slash."
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu raced forward, slamming into Axew for a final strike.
"I won, now let us pass." Ash said sternly.
"I never stopped you, simply offered a match." N reminded. "Ash, you once said I was a good person with good goals, yet you argue against what my team is doing, do you still believe both of those as you once did?"
"I believe there are people that shouldn't have Pokemon, but it's not my or anyone else's place to tell them that." Ash stated. "What Team Plasma is doing is wrong, and I hope you realize it before you yourself do something you cannot undo."
Later at the Pokemon Center
"Hey Ash, how's Darmanitan doing?" Rosa asked.
"Good, nothing a nights rest won't heal, is everything alright?" Ash asked.
"Can you be honest with me?" Rosa asked.
"Sure." Ash offered.
"I know I've never been the biggest fan of N, but do you really think he isn't bad?" Rosa asked.
"I've seen evil, even just bad people plenty of times. Too many to even count. Honestly, I'm not sure about N, I don't think he believes he's bad, and maybe there is some good in Team Plasma." Ash reasoned.
"Ash, they kidnapped a trains worth of Pokemon back in Nimbasa." Rosa countered.
"I didn't say they were all good, but N had to have gotten these ideas from somewhere. I don't know, maybe there could be hope for him yet." Ash sighed. "All I know is that what he said today holds some value. I pushed Darmanitan to start with Belly Drum, and need to be careful of that going forward."
"I know you'll make the right decision next time, and you didn't make the wrong one this time, just an impulsive one." Rosa reassured.