Pokemon BW fic
Chapter Eight: Perspective
Alder was okay. No, a good guy. He and Cheren had gotten off to a rocky start but even they were on good terms now.
Touko had to admit she was a sucker for sob stories. His reaction to his beloved Pokémon’s death was probably overly melodramatic and unhealthy and irresponsible and had probably pissed a bunch of people off, but she couldn’t but respond to that level of feeling. And people said Bianca was the emotional one.
Touko smiled. She’d been having this reoccurring daydream of Bianca as a model/professor in Lolita-style and a very frilly lab coat. She would loved to have shared it with Bianca had it been about anyone else.
“Any parting words?” Alder asked her.
Be careful. On one hand, he was much stronger than she was, but on the other, the theory of narrative causality made her certain that she, not he, would be having the final confrontation with Team Plasma. She feared treachery or underhandedness, but it would be too easily dismissed to tell someone more than twice her age to beware unspecified trickery.
Ghetsis, she was sure, was up to no good. He was obviously manipulating N to be his puppet-king, while trying to ensure that he commanded the only body with Pokémon-power left. N fought her because they were rivals, but Ghetsis fought her because they were enemies. She shivered to think that the only reason she’d been able to fight off the ninja assassins so far was that Ghetsis considered her only a sidekick compared to Alder or Brycen and such. To free N from Ghetsis was a goal she could pursue without hesitation.
Though she couldn’t discount the thought that Alder could be defeated by sheer might. She’d never seen the Champion fight, but he’d only seen the Great Dragon in the distance. She had been there, clinging to the worn edges of a staircase moments from thunderous collapse, and had been forced to her knees by power not even directed at her.
Ghetsis wanted to use that power to manipulate public opinion by fear. He was an orator--he thought in terms of changing minds with words and manipulating emotions. Changing what people wanted was a strong power itself, but what a waste of this one. She could see in the Dragon (Dragons, the weight of the stone in her pocket reminded her) the power to raise continents and drown mountains, to change the very fabric of reality. N, she thought, understood, but was waiting for her.
“If everyone released their Pokémon and destroyed their Pokéballs, what would the Pokémon do? Would it be that bad? My mom’s Pokémon have been with her for thirty years. She couldn’t make them leave if she wanted to.”
“That’s our secret backup plan. It’s difficult sometimes. Some Pokémon would leave and the world would be better off that they were able to. Some would even try to take revenge, because there are bad people out there who they might think deserve it. But if we live up to our ideals, Team Plasma has no power over us. We oppose them for forcefully separating Pokémon and people against their wills. Does that answer your question, Touko?”
Being on first-name basis with the Champion of Unova. She’s never dreamed as much back when she left Nuvema. “Yes, thank you.” She wondered at the scale of things, N’s words about compulsions from Pokéballs and badges warring with her upbringing that being friends with her Pokémon was the ideal to strive for and her assumption that all other trainers were brought up the same way.
“You’re my second. I’m counting on you.” He ruffled her ponytail affectionately. “You know, after this is over, I’m going to rethink my duties and responsibilities as Champion. I could use people like you and your friend Cheren as protégés. I’ll make sure to keep Marshal from getting too jealous.”
She blushed. She could see the possibility of developing a mentor-crush on him, if one totally without intent of seriousness. She was already way too invested in the friendships and maybe-romances that she had and meant anything by. “That would be an honor.”
“Or perhaps I’ll be honored for the famed Hero of Unova to deem to look me up on her Xtransceiver. Wish me luck anyway.” Alder grinned at her as he flew away.
“Good luck,” Touko said to the wind.
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Alder was okay. No, a good guy. He and Cheren had gotten off to a rocky start but even they were on good terms now.
Touko had to admit she was a sucker for sob stories. His reaction to his beloved Pokémon’s death was probably overly melodramatic and unhealthy and irresponsible and had probably pissed a bunch of people off, but she couldn’t but respond to that level of feeling. And people said Bianca was the emotional one.
Touko smiled. She’d been having this reoccurring daydream of Bianca as a model/professor in Lolita-style and a very frilly lab coat. She would loved to have shared it with Bianca had it been about anyone else.
“Any parting words?” Alder asked her.
Be careful. On one hand, he was much stronger than she was, but on the other, the theory of narrative causality made her certain that she, not he, would be having the final confrontation with Team Plasma. She feared treachery or underhandedness, but it would be too easily dismissed to tell someone more than twice her age to beware unspecified trickery.
Ghetsis, she was sure, was up to no good. He was obviously manipulating N to be his puppet-king, while trying to ensure that he commanded the only body with Pokémon-power left. N fought her because they were rivals, but Ghetsis fought her because they were enemies. She shivered to think that the only reason she’d been able to fight off the ninja assassins so far was that Ghetsis considered her only a sidekick compared to Alder or Brycen and such. To free N from Ghetsis was a goal she could pursue without hesitation.
Though she couldn’t discount the thought that Alder could be defeated by sheer might. She’d never seen the Champion fight, but he’d only seen the Great Dragon in the distance. She had been there, clinging to the worn edges of a staircase moments from thunderous collapse, and had been forced to her knees by power not even directed at her.
Ghetsis wanted to use that power to manipulate public opinion by fear. He was an orator--he thought in terms of changing minds with words and manipulating emotions. Changing what people wanted was a strong power itself, but what a waste of this one. She could see in the Dragon (Dragons, the weight of the stone in her pocket reminded her) the power to raise continents and drown mountains, to change the very fabric of reality. N, she thought, understood, but was waiting for her.
“If everyone released their Pokémon and destroyed their Pokéballs, what would the Pokémon do? Would it be that bad? My mom’s Pokémon have been with her for thirty years. She couldn’t make them leave if she wanted to.”
“That’s our secret backup plan. It’s difficult sometimes. Some Pokémon would leave and the world would be better off that they were able to. Some would even try to take revenge, because there are bad people out there who they might think deserve it. But if we live up to our ideals, Team Plasma has no power over us. We oppose them for forcefully separating Pokémon and people against their wills. Does that answer your question, Touko?”
Being on first-name basis with the Champion of Unova. She’s never dreamed as much back when she left Nuvema. “Yes, thank you.” She wondered at the scale of things, N’s words about compulsions from Pokéballs and badges warring with her upbringing that being friends with her Pokémon was the ideal to strive for and her assumption that all other trainers were brought up the same way.
“You’re my second. I’m counting on you.” He ruffled her ponytail affectionately. “You know, after this is over, I’m going to rethink my duties and responsibilities as Champion. I could use people like you and your friend Cheren as protégés. I’ll make sure to keep Marshal from getting too jealous.”
She blushed. She could see the possibility of developing a mentor-crush on him, if one totally without intent of seriousness. She was already way too invested in the friendships and maybe-romances that she had and meant anything by. “That would be an honor.”
“Or perhaps I’ll be honored for the famed Hero of Unova to deem to look me up on her Xtransceiver. Wish me luck anyway.” Alder grinned at her as he flew away.
“Good luck,” Touko said to the wind.
Back to main page