[Natural Black: …This…]
Unova Region, some unknown backroad.
"Zoro?" (What's wrong?)
A Zoroark stood beside N. Seeing him staring at his phone like he'd gone dumb, it couldn't help but ask.
N's emotions were definitely off right now.
"N… what's wrong? Your ideal… is wavering."
A black dragon suddenly dropped from the sky. Golden electricity flared from its tail, carving a deep gouge into the ground as it landed.
This dragon was the Dragon of Ideals—Zekrom.
"I'm fine."
N shook his head and closed his phone.
After seeing what Grey had sent, he really wanted to storm in and demand answers from Ghetsis.
But now wasn't the time.
Even if he had Zekrom… he only had Zekrom.
His "father," Ghetsis, was unfathomably deep.
Ghetsis's ace was Hydreigon, and it had been around for years.
And since Dragons only got stronger as they aged, it probably had Champion-level strength…
And inside Team Plasma's base were the other Seven Sages, a few of whom had Elite Four-level strength.
On N's side, it was just Zekrom. His other friends weren't strong enough.
If he questioned them recklessly, his friends would be the ones to suffer.
So…
He'd ask Father later.
N seemed to steel himself, and Zekrom's presence began to surge with him.
"N… your ideal?" Zekrom's tone carried a hint of surprise.
It hadn't expected N—who'd just fallen into a low point—would rebound this hard.
"Whether it's lies… whether it's falsehood… as long as it can bring liberation to Unova…"
N's fingertips dug into his palm until blood seeped out.
At that moment, Zekrom's tail-engine roared.
The earlier golden lightning shifted into indigo arcs, countless serpentine bolts crawling between its scales.
"Then that is an ideal worth carrying through to the end!"
N's low whisper vanished under the thunder as Zekrom spread its wings and a storm of lightning burst across the sky.
In that instant, it felt like anything—anyone—would have to make way for their ideal.
Meanwhile, Dragonspiral Tower.
A pure white orb hovered at the top of the tower, pale blue flames coiling around it like silk.
Suddenly, the orb flashed.
A translucent white dragon silhouette spiraled out, landing lightly at the tower's peak.
The Dragon of Truth—Reshiram.
Reshiram's phantom lifted its head toward the distant horizon where thunderclouds churned. In its eyes swirled a sorrow built up over a thousand years.
Its long tail-feathers drifted in the wind, scattering sparks like stars.
"The delusional one's wild thunder blankets Unova again… O true hero, where do you wander at this hour?"
As the words fell, the withered rose bushes below the tower ignited without flame, blooming into a fleeting illusion within the blue fire.
Reshiram looked on with regret.
In the river of history, there had been countless moments like this—ideals and truth colliding.
"...Sigh."
It sighed at what was happening in the distance.
If a hero who upheld "Truth" could stand up now, perhaps the storm over Unova might still disperse before the thunder fully broke—
Like an old book snapped shut before the rain, strangling an unwritten tragedy on a blank page.
But reality was always heavier than ideals.
Those willing to throw themselves into the fire for "Truth" were few and far between.
…
…
Kanto Region, Saffron City.
After forwarding N a few messages and getting no reply, Grey put his phone away.
He hadn't muted anything—if N wanted to talk later, he'd deal with it then.
"Grey… that Governor… is he from Team Plasma?" Caitlin asked, confused.
She couldn't understand why someone from Team Plasma would be watching Grey's stream.
And even becoming a Governor-tier supporter.
"Pretty normal. One of Team Rocket's four generals—Apollo—also became a Governor so I'd go easier on him when I arrested him."
"Hm?"
"Cough—just trying to lighten the mood."
Grey scratched his cheek, then spoke as if thinking it through.
"From what he wrote, his status in Team Plasma is probably pretty high. If we're using Shauntal's novels as a reference… he's basically a 'chosen one' type."
"In plain terms: Team Plasma's next heir."
"...That…"
Caitlin didn't know what to say.
She was about to take a post in Unova.
And now someone had shown up—someone with a partner on the level of a regional Champion's ace, maybe even stronger.
How was she supposed to deal with that?
Caitlin suddenly felt like she'd been kept in the dark.
Like she'd been set up.
Was someone trying to use her to target her family?
The thought felt… plausible.
Her family had enormous influence, with pillars in all kinds of industries.
And she was the "weakest" one.
If she went to Unova without knowing anything, she might not even realize how she died until it happened…
Zekrom alone sounded oppressive.
This wasn't like the Legendary Birds—things that Elite Four-level trainers could still hunt down.
This was a Legendary with real Champion-tier power!
There was no comparison.
At least, Caitlin felt that even if she and all six of her Pokémon fought together, they still wouldn't be Zekrom's match.
That was what "Legendary" meant.
So… could she still back out?
That thought rose sharply inside her.
She didn't want to break her word—but she also didn't want to throw her life away.
No. She needed to find a chance to ask the Unova League what was really going on.
Just in case she'd been set up.
"Don't panic," Grey said, patting Caitlin's shoulder. His tone was steady. "The Unova League probably isn't trying to hurt you. They genuinely want your talent as a Trainer."
"Don't be afraid. Once the Gym circuit stuff settles down, I'm heading to Unova anyway."
"Huh? You're going to Unova too?" Caitlin blinked. She'd never heard Grey mention his next destination before.
"Yeah. I'm delivering prisoners to the Unova League. I'll stay about a week or so. How about it—want to go together?"
Grey invited her outright.
Sabrina was going too anyway. One more person didn't really change anything.
"...When you put it like that," Sabrina said suddenly from the side, "Caitlin's worries might not be unreasonable…"
Even Sabrina—normally a bit airheaded in everyday life—was starting to sense something was off.
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