Last edited: 20/02/2020

★👑★

White~

I woke up to being on top of a cold surface. Lucario's angry cries rang through my ears, accompanied by the sound of metal clanking. I turned and stared in shock as my Pokémon friends—Lucario, Gardevoir, and Vanilluxe—were stuck in metal cages.

Lucario had his blue bone staff out and attempted to break the thin bars that were built centimetres away from each other. Gardevoir continuously glanced between me and Lucario with a worried gaze. Vanilluxe also had a similar expression as Gardevoir's.

I attempted to get up, only to find myself tightly chained to a metal table.

"Struggling is futile, so why bother trying?"

Lucario growled at the direction of the voice, as Gardevoir's head snapped up towards the same direction. I turned to where they stared at, only to notice a familiar face grinning triumphantly.

"You... from the Driftveil Tournament!"

"That's right; Colress, in case you have forgotten. I have mentioned we'd meet again, haven't I? You see, I am quite interested in your ability to hear the hearts of Pokémon. You can communicate with them as if they were human beings, so I'm curious about the details."

Ticked off from his attitude, I instinctively pulled the metal cuffs. "Who are you exactly? Where did you take me?"

He chuckled for a few seconds before sitting on the table beside me.

"I was asked by an acquaintance to help with his research. What I desire is to bring out the entirety in Pokémon's potential. If I can accomplish that, I don't care what it takes!"

"So you're Neo Team Plasma," I concluded.

"Yes...for now—and my objective is slowly becoming reachable. If it means the strength must be brought out by the interactions between Pokémon and Trainers, then so be it! If it means you have to use a merciless approach, like Team Plasma's, and force out all of the Pokémon's power, then so be it! And yes, if the entire world is destroyed as a result, then so be it..."

My eyes widened. "You're crazy!"

He pressed his finger against my lip, signalling me to stay silent.

"Not crazy, rather dedicated to my research. After witnessing your capabilities, as well as what skills you possess, I have decided to select you and your Pokémon as my test subjects. Don't worry, you are in safe hands. You and your Pokémon are my prized subjects, so I don't plan on harming anyone of you."

No way, he's going to harm them! Despite the grip of his fingers on my lips, I turned to Gardevoir in an attempt to tell her to use Teleport to get us all out of here; however, she hastily shook her head.

Colress turned my head around to face him again.

"You've communicated with your Gardevoir? It's such a shame; you see, once I got you restrained, I placed something on your body that will ensure your Pokémon won't rebel against me," he explained, removing his finger to tap something metal on my forehead.

I didn't feel anything being put onto me—probably because I was unconscious when it was placed. However, I felt his finger shape the object on my forehead, on purposefully brushing against my skin.

"Ghetsis wants me to use my devices to control Kyurem and control all of Unova through fear. The item we plan on using is called the DNA Splicers. Have you heard of it? It's the item we took from Drayden in Opelucid City."

"What do you plan on using it for?" I questioned. He removed his hand from my forehead, sitting up straight and gazing down at me with the same venomous smirk from the tournament.

"That DNA Splicer is capable of creating a fusion between Kyurem and one of Reshiram or Zekrom, hence why Neo Team Plasma has also captured Reshiram attempting to flee Nimbasa City."

My eyes widened. So Reshiram wasn't able to fly away or was something keeping it near me. Was it just flying away from me to watch me from a safe distance? I've underestimated the situation, it seemed. I wondered what Reshiram's purpose was.

Did I fail to understand Reshiram? I remembered how it refused to respond when I told it to fly far away while I'm talking to Rosa. Or maybe there's more to it...

"That's right. The process is called Absofusion, and Neo Team Plasma plans on using it between Reshiram and Kyurem. Originally, Zinzolins wanted to see if all three dragons—Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem—could all fuse back into one dragon as it once was centuries ago," he explained.

"Then why am I here?"

"You see, I'm fully aware of Reshiram's outstanding willpower, which could potentially surpass even Kyurem's will. That's where you come along, to control the final creation. Your gift in hearing the hearts of Pokémon will ensure Reshiram will listen to you, which will lower its willpower and allow my machine to fully control Kyurem, hence controlling the entire being," Colress replied, pressing a button that suddenly released my cuffs.

I stood up, touching my wrists and stepping away from the metal table. However, he only grins and tapped the remote in his hands on his head slightly, clearly mocking me.

"Don't be so rash. Gardevoir knows this too. The device on your forehead will forcefully allow me to control your mind and body; unfortunately, it cannot control your inner thoughts and conscience but that's okay. I had it tested on a grunt to your Pokémon's full display, so I'm sure they know what's going to happen."

"You...!" I spat, attempting to get the metal device off my forehead, only to result in a fruitless struggle.

I heard his press the button on his remote. In an instant, my body froze and I started blanking. Though I was given access to my senses, I couldn't do anything at all, not even speak a single word.

"I was hoping to use it later, but that's alright. I'm sure these EM waves won't harm you too much, though it will restrict you of many things. Come, White, sit down obediently on the table, will you?"

Without much of a choice, my mind listened to what Colress had wanted and forced me to sit next to him, staring at my friends who were still behind bars.

"Your Pokémon will make quite useful tools to assist Neo Team Plasma. Do you want to know something? I despise Ghetsis from the beginning. I simply listen to him only because we had similar goals: he wanted to conquer Unova and I wanted to find a way to bring out a Pokémon's true potential. By following Ghetsis, I can witness that through Kyurem. Zinzolin's case? He's just controlled by my Beheeyem, just to continue Ghetsis's big idea."

Colress motioned towards my Pokémon.

"Now, your Pokémon certainly don't want you harmed, so that's why I'm not going to use my control device on them, especially not to your Lucario. Because Lucario's anger... is its biggest strength."

Lucario seemed angered by his words and continued to slash through the cage. Vanilluxe stared at me with tears in his eyes. His ice body trembled, not in fear but worry—he's worried for me and the others.

'Vanilluxe...' That's good, I can barely use the Telepathy technique Gardevoir and Lucario taught me. 'I'm okay... It's okay...'

I felt Colress pressing his hand against the machine on my forehead.

"Excellent, your abilities don't seem to be affected either. Now... Lucario, Gardevoir, Vanilluxe... If you don't want White to be harmed, you will follow everything she says; of course, while she's under my control, that is."

Lucario was still angry, but he stopped resisting, his hand trembling while gripping onto his blue staff.

"Wonderful! Come along, White. We have work to do with Neo Team Plasma."

★𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞★

After Rosa had woken up, Hugh didn't hesitate to slam his hands on the table in front of her. The group brought her to one of the rooms in a house rented by part of Black's income.

"Purrloin... Where's is Purrloin, you Team Plasma thief!?"

Rosa was visibly startled at the sudden proclamation. She noticed that she was lying down on a bed, and noticed the group staring at her.

"Stop it, Hugh. Didn't you say Nate will handle the interrogation?" Black scolded.

"B-Black..." Rosa muttered.

"Rosa, you are in the custody of the police force. You are accused of being a Neo Team Plasma member and aiding in White's kidnapping," Nate stated in a monotone voice.

Rosa was shocked at what was happening before her eyes. She stared down at the pendant she was given by her mother, which now lay on her lap opened and revealed the picture of N inside.

"Tell us all you know about Neo Team Plasma."

"Neo Team Plasma? What do you mean by that?" Rosa questioned.

Black intervene before Nate could. "There are two Team Plasmas: the Black Team Plasma who froze Opelucid City and the White Team Plasma that opposed them. We got that information from the recording Touko managed to create for us."

Rosa understood the situation, but she was alarmed at how quickly things were going. She realized that she had been tricked, that N never joined the 'Black Team Plasma' but very likely the 'White Team Plasma.' What's worse was that she had brought White to them.

Guilt loomed over her, as she pressed her head against her knees, hugging them as a way to comfort herself.

"Rosa, make things easier for us. Touko is my sister! She's the Champion of Unova! She's the one your former king loves and wants to protect, the one who wants your goal to be noticed to the world!"

Hugh nudged Black's arm. "And here I thought you were going to let Nate handle this."

"Hey! You want Purrloin, I want my sister! We have similar goals."

Rosa glanced at Nate who stared at her emotionlessly. He refused to say a word over Black and Hugh's bickering. She felt hopeless being under the same roof as them; not only that, she felt guilty that she had caused N unintentional pain.

"You knew... you all suspected me, huh... am I that transparent...?"

"Black, Hugh, leave the room," Nate ordered.

Hugh was about to interject but Black noticed Nate's serious expression and Rosa's gloomy look. With a sigh, Black dragged a persistent Hugh out of the room. Once Black closed the door behind him, Rosa and Nate were left in the room alone.

Nate got up from his chair and sat next to Rosa on the bed.

"Yes, we suspected you. Your actions were too easy to read. However, you are given mercy because of the simple fact you were tricked. White's recording was proof of that. That is why we require your intel on the situation. The faster you provide us with these, the faster that we can rescue the Champion."

"Was all of your kindness back then... those moments where you encouraged me to follow what I wanted... the times you supported my desire to be part of the musical... were they all lies...?" Rosa questioned, despite knowing the answer herself.

The emotionless tone in the way he spoke was enough for Rosa to understand.

"Yes, it's part of my mission." Rosa's heart clenched at Nate's words, as she gripped onto her knees tighter. "O-Okay... I'll tell you if it's going to make Lord N happy..."

"Good answer. We have intel that Neo Team Plasma plan on using a freeze cannon that a scientist named Colress had created. Rumours have it that one of the previous members possess the key to stopping that machine. We must have that key. Rood has informed me that you had the key, so I would like for you to hand it over," Nate requested.

However, Rosa shook her head. "I can't."

"Why not? Didn't you say you'll cooperate?"

"No, of course, I'll cooperate but—" Rosa froze, recalling the sudden shock she had when she went back to her dorm one time.

"What's wrong?" questioned Nate.

"It's just... I had it with me—My mom told me to protect it and to give it to N when I find him. But... it's missing—I think it was stolen."

"Do you remember anything that's on the key?"

Rosa shook her head. "My mom warned me about using the key. 'A life for a life' she told me. Colress's machine is said to possess so much energy that it needs to be transferred onto something else. That's what I remembered, but I don't know how to use the key."

"What structure does the key shape as?" Nate questioned.

"A small chip with a very tiny 'P' sticker on the top left corner. I put the sticker there to remind myself it was essential."

★👑★

Black and Hugh impatiently waited for Nate to call them back. Hugh had enough and had tried to storm into the room, only to be stopped by Nate's Dewott. He grumpily went back to the living room and sat next to Black.

"Damn it, Nate! And I even gave him the call to help his investigation."

N sat across from the two trainers, still pondering about White's wellbeing. His hands were clasped together, as each finger clenched to suppress his distress. Gigi sat on his lap, looking up worryingly at him.

Then Cheren entered the house, glancing around to notice the gloomy atmosphere.

"Touya, Alder called me after you informed him of the details. He will rendezvous with you at the ship's deck once he settles a few personal things," he explained.

"What's in your mind, Cheren?" Black asked.

"I just... don't think it's that simple. The idea of just barging into the ship, free Kyurem and Touko... I don't think Neo Team Plasma will make things that easy."

"So what are you suggesting?" Hugh questioned.

"I feel like Neo Team Plasma is also divided," Cheren stated. Nate had finished talking to Rosa, only to come downstairs to hear what Cheren had mentioned. "I also agree with you, Cheren. Things don't appear as simple as it seems. Of course, this is from a different perspective, I suspect?"

"What are you presuming?"

"The recording confirmed that Neo Team Plasma had kidnapped White and as she had Reshiram they are likely to catch Reshiram and use it for their gains. I suspect it has something to do with the DNA Splicers they stole from Drayden," Nate responded.

Realization struck Cheren at the mention of Drayden's name.

"Touya! I just remembered! I'm also here to tell you about the DNA Splicers. Remember the last time I told you how Reshiram and Zekrom were one Pokémon that was eventually split into two? There's speculation that when the single Pokémon split into Reshiram and Zekrom, there was a husk or a leftover shell, which would turn into Kyurem."

"So what does the DNA Splicers do?" Black questioned.

"The DNA Splicers contains fusing properties, which I suspect relate to Kyurem, Reshiram, and Zekrom. It's very likely from those facts alone that the DNA Splicers is capable of fusing Kyurem with Reshiram or Zekrom, and if the design is even more advanced I wonder if it could go beyond and fuse all three; however, that possibility is very unlikely," Cheren explained.

"But how is Touko related?"

N rose from his seat after hearing White's name. "To confirm, did the recording mention Ghetsis needing Touko?"

Nate and Cheren shook their heads.

"Colress needed her, not Neo Team Plasma," Nate responded.

"Then you should be right about Neo Team Plasma having separate goals. The main goal is to conquer Unova, right? I do not know who Colress is, so there's no way he could learn about me if not from Ghetsis. In that case, do you think Colress is going to go against Neo Team Plasma?"

"What would that mean then?" Hugh questioned, also rising from his seat.

"I suspect Colress is going to use Touko to control Kyurem once it fuses with Reshiram."

N's speculations left Black in the state of panic. He realized that not a lot of people know that N possesses the same capability in understanding the hearts and voices of Pokémon as White. Black began to worry about what Colress was going to do with White.

"Well, this is what I was thinking: their locations. I think it's quite suspicious that everything is going on inside the frigate Touko found for Touya. Especially now that there are two separate motives within Neo Team Plasma, there must be another location Neo Team Plasma is setting up their plot," Cheren stated.

"If we split up, we'll lose ground! We need all of our strengths combined to defeat Neo Team Plasma! Who cares whether or not there's another location? We know Kyurem's in their frigate, so that's the place where we'll attack them!" Hugh proclaimed.

The rest of the group agreed, having not much idea as to where the second would be which debunked Cheren's theory temporarily. However, N understood Cheren's words and had a feeling White would be at the 'second location' than the frigate. Despite that, he too had no idea what that location could be.

A few ideas crossed his mind: no doubt Colress would be at the 'second location'.

As the rest of the group chatted, N decided to step out into one of the rooms. To his surprise, Anthea and Concordia were both in the room. They came after Rood told them White's situation. With a concerned tone, they ushered N to sit down on the bed.

"Don't worry, N. These trainers are smart, and White trusts her brother a lot," Concordia reassured.

"We have no doubt White would be found," Anthea added.

N nodded reluctantly. "I believe them when they say things weren't simple. I just... I want to trust myself in saying Touko's not in the ship."

"Touko? Is that White's name?" Concordia asked.

N nodded once again.

"Well, I believe you should trust your gut instincts. If they plan on using Kyurem as a weapon to freeze Unova, they'd want Kyurem to be at a place where it's at its strongest. Where would that be?" Anthea questioned.

It was then N realized there could only be one other place where Kyurem could serve Neo Team Plasma efficiently;  that place was the Giant Chasm.

"Do you think Touko would be at the Giant Chasm?"

"Touko is quite a strong trainer. It would be no surprise for Neo Team Plasma to use her as a tool—such a cruel perspective. They would very likely have her guard Kyurem, so if Kyurem is not on the ship—"

"Then we have an answer," Concordia finished Anthea's conclusion.

N lifted his head to look at both of his foster sisters in the eyes.

"We will help you, N. No matter what, we will always be there to support you," Concordia spoke.

"We will defeat these cruel people—the main purpose of our goal is to punish people like Ghetsis," Anthea followed.

"Count me in as well," Rosa added, stepping into the room with her White Team Plasma outfit in her arms. "Don't forget the original Team Plasma. We will fight for you, N. That is something we will always follow."

Rosa's determination delighted N, and it brought him more confidence in standing up to his father. He no longer had a reason to fear Kyurem's capabilities. So long as people like his foster sisters, Rosa, White... so long as those people are there supporting him, N will walk down the road of accepting the current reality and will ask his Pokémon friends to help him.

Rosa took out a Pokéball, in which a Zoroark appeared. N's eyes met with Zoroark's and he recognized the Dark-type Pokémon as the same Zorua who helped him two years ago. Gigi hopped onto the bed beside N, staring up upon him with determination.

N nodded to himself, taking Zoroark's Pokéball from Rosa's hand. "Thank you," he muttered.

"Black has taken good care of Zoroark during your absence. He told me to return Zoroark to you, so I'm happy to be useful for you, Lord N," Rosa responded gratefully.

"Then I'll be sure to thank him for his kindness," N replied.

As the small Team Plasma group chatted amongst themselves, Cheren leaned further against the wall near the door of the room. Having heard their conversation Cheren wondered if he should go to the Giant Chasm first to solidify N's theory.

If Colress was at the Giant Chasm, his machines would also be installed there.

Cheren thought of that idea, debating whether he should follow it, tightly gripping onto the small chip with a small 'P' symbol inside his pocket.

★👑★

Be sure to vote and comment on the story. Also, correct me on any mistakes during the story.

Hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next chapter~

~Lisa