The Ones Who Bested Alder

C'mon, N! Over here!

Sure.

Jeez! Don't be such a Slowpoke! The sun's about to set, and we haven't even finished showing you around town!

*chuckle* There's no rush, Iris. He did just get here, after all!

Let us know if anything catches your eye, N. We'd be happy to give you a closer look.

Yes...thank you.

By the way, where's Zekrom? Is it in a Poké Ball right now?

No.

It seems Zekrom is also very interested in Pasio.

Whoa! So that's Zekrom, huh? It's so cool!

Wow...a Legendary Dragon Pokémon...

OK, I know where we should go next!

Follow me!

Wait for us, Iris!

... ... ...

This is the Pasio arena!

It's normally used for Pokémon battles, but there aren't any matches happening today.

Pokémon battles...

Iris, I'll go get us permission to use the arena!

Oh... Do you not like Pokémon battles, N?

No, it's not that...

Ah! Zekrom!

A Pokémon battle is a way for us to see what wonderful things others have to contribute.

Accepting different ideas and different beings changes the world like a chemical reaction.

Zekrom taught me that...

Different ideas? A chemical reaction?

I don't really get all that, but I guess it means you don't hate Pokémon battles! Me, I love to battle!

Oh?

Yes, I know.

You people are very strange.

Hm? How so?

You know what I did in Unova, don't you?

I was the king of Team Plasma. We fought the Gym Leaders and the Champion. We opposed everything you stood for.

You have every reason to hate me. I don't see why you would be kind to me.

So...why? Why are you being so welcoming?

Why not?

What do you mean?

You know, the former Champion of Unova, Alder, was really, really strong.

But he lost to you, right?

... ... ...

Alder always used to say...

the ones who change the world are always the ones who pursued their dreams.

I think that's why you beat him!

Because you've been pursuing your dream of making Pokémon happy!

Wha...

There's no way I could hate someone like that! And also...

Zekrom is so calm around you.

I know you can understand what Pokémon say, but I can tell what dragons are feeling!

... ... ...

You're different from me, Iris.

Huh?

It's not just that you can understand the hearts of dragons.

You also understand the hearts of people.

With you as Champion, Unova will become a place where Pokémon can live peacefully.

N...

Thanks! I'll do my best!

Yoo-hoo, Iris!

I got permission to use the arena!

Thanks, Bianca!

N...

Battle me!

I've always wanted to battle you! You defeated Alder, after all!

Iris...

Yes, I'd like that, too.

I want to see the power of the current Unova Champion!

I'll surpass you!

Phew... Boy, are you two strong!

You're strong, too, Iris.

I wonder what would have happened if you had been the Champion I challenged back then.

It's getting late. Let's head out, shall we?

Let's hang out again tomorrow! I'll bring Hilbert along, too!

Hilbert?! He's on Pasio, too?

Come to think of it, he's been wanting to see you again for a while now! We probably should have invited him today.

Then I'll definitely bring him with me tomorrow!

I'm going to see him again...

The sun's starting to set... Guess we couldn't find any clues to N's whereabouts.

Yeah! It's still too early to give up!

I understand how you both feel, but it's getting dark. Let's stop for today.

Good idea. It'll be harder to find him when it's dark out, anyway.

Yeah. What a bummer, though.

Hey, cheer up! We know he's here somewhere!

Let's ask Bianca to help us tomorrow. I'm sure we'll find him if we do.

Good idea.

NOOO! Go away!

What was that?!

It came from over there!

Give us your Pokémon! It's for its own good!

No! Poochyena's my friend!

Your "friend," huh?

My Zoroark is strong! I've spent years raising it!

Hey, cut it out!

If you're going to resort to force, you'll have to go through us.

Who are you? Hm?

You...

Well? You gonna take us on or what?

Very well... We won't take this Pokémon.

However! You're coming with us to our secret hideout!

What in the world are you talking about? There's no way we're going with you.

Heh heh heh... Maybe this'll change your mind.

Waaah! Waaah! I want my big brother!

That little girl!

Tch! What a dirty trick.

Well? What're you gonna do?

Fine, let's go.

Heh heh... How very cooperative of you!

What do we do now?

This is a world created by humans...

Heeeey, N!

Good morning, Bianca, Iris.

Oh? Hilbert's not with you?

It's really weird, for some reason, we can't get ahold of him!

And not just him! Cheren and Hilda, too!

It's not like them at all. I hope nothing bad has happened...

Pardon me!

I'm with PML staff. Do you have a moment to answer a few questions?

That's them! It's Hilbert and our friends!

They were kidnapped by Team Break?!

They did it to save us...

Waaaah! I'm soweeee!

I-it's OK. Don't cry.

Hilbert and the others will be OK.

I wanna go help them...but we don't know where they went...

Really?

What is it, N?

... ... ...

It's been a while since they brought us here, but we still have no idea what Team Break is up to.

Yeah. I can't believe they're just keeping us locked up here.

No idea. That's why it's so creepy.

No way! We'll find a way out of here, don't you worry!

Focus on staying calm. That way, we can be prepared to deal with whatever they try to do.

Argh! I can't take it anymore!

Hey! Team Break! Come out and face us!

Shhh, Hilda!

Well, aren't you a feisty one?

Sorry, but we're in the middle of preparing a grand welcome for N.

N?! What's he got to do with this?

If you're here, N will surely come. You're the reason Team Plasma fell from grace...

I'm just using you so I can achieve my dream!

What's going on?! Why is the ground shaking?!

Sir, we have a problem!

Go get 'em, Haxorus!

Help us out, Musharna!

How did they find our secret hideout?!

This little one remembered your scent and led us right to you.

I'm here to rescue my friends!

No matter what!

N!

Hilbert...

Are you all OK?!

Hold tight! We'll get you out of this!

I-it's really you...

I've dreamed of meeting you, N.

Your Majesty!

Wha, ?

... ... ...

I'm glad we're getting out of this mess, but...

N, do you know this guy?

No. At least...I don't think so...

Of course you wouldn't know me. I'm not from Unova.

But I believe wholeheartedly in your dream!

N's dream?

Have you had a chance to walk the streets of Pasio, Your Majesty?

Yes.

Wasn't it just awful?

"A paradise where humans and Pokémon coexist." That's supposedly the concept of this island.

But nothing could be further from the truth!

This place is nothing but a glorified prison for Pokémon...

Pasio is...a prison?

That's nonsense! You don't know what you're talking about!

Nonsense, you say? Think about it!

Pokémon are trapped on this island and have their freedom taken away! It's no different from the oppression of a Poké Ball!

And they're forced to battle each other in that ridiculous PML tournament!

Even Pokémon who don't want to battle are forced to do so against their will!

This island is nothing but a false utopia, created by egotistical humans!

... ... ...

That's not what Pasio is!

And where do you get off lecturing us after all the bad things Team Break has done?

Yes, I agree. Team Break is the worst. They selfishly use Pokémon for their own desires.

However, they do have power.

And I wanted to use that power to save Pokémon!

But I wasn't strong enough...

Your Majesty! Please, help me save the Pokémon!

Become the king of Team Break!

The king of Team Break?!

N...

We're nothing like Ghetsis! We really want to save Pokémon!

We want to change this gray world, where black and white, people and Pokémon, have been mixed together instead of kept separate...

So please! Lend us your strength!

... ... ...

Your Majesty!

I have traveled the world and seen much of it...

No matter where I went, the relationship between people and Pokémon was the same.

What did you call it?

Ah yes, a gray world.

Exactly! That's what we need to change!

However...

That's how you see the world. It's not what I see.

Wha...

This world isn't gray at all. You only see it that way because you're not trying to see the truth!

I've seen with my own eyes people and Pokémon coexisting.

I saw it here on this paradise island called Pasio!

Your Majesty...

Pokémon can unleash their true power by being with people.

And people can discover their true potential by being with Pokémon.

Instead of separating black and white, we must accept it.

That's what I learned from my travels around the world!

The formula that makes up this world!

N...

Your Majesty, no... It can't be...

Even if Team Plasma has changed, I didn't want to believe that you've changed, too.

Fine. I'll do it myself.

I will be the successor of your old dream!

Right after I take you down!

After all that talk, you're just going to resort to brute force?

We'll handle these ones back here! N, Hilbert, you guys take him down!

Yeah! C'mon, N!

Yeah!

We'll protect the dreams of everyone here!

Now's your chance, N!

Let's do it, Hilbert!

Argh! Why are you so strong?

It's over. Just surrender already.

I don't want to, but...fine. There's no way I can win here.

But I haven't given up!

I'll be back to make your old dream a reality!

... ... ...

N!

This is why we shouldn't separate people and Pokémon.

What?!

Your friend loves you. It says it wants to be with you forever.

That's why it battled us with everything it had.

If you make your dream a reality, you'll be separated forever.

And yet, your friend still fought its hardest for you...

Zoroark...

Instead of listening to the things I said in the past, maybe you should listen more to your friend here.

Your Pokémon has so much love for you.

... ... ...

Let's go, Zoroark.

I was really worried when I heard you'd been kidnapped, but I'm so glad you're all OK!

Yeah! And we finally were able to get Hilbert and N together.

Yes, I'm glad, too.

Hm? What's wrong, Cheren?

Yeah. I have my own history with him.

Now that I'm a Gym Leader, I think I'd be able to approach our conversation from a different point of view.

Yeah. I'm just wondering what was so important that he had to tell N in person.

I'd like to talk to N, too...

but there's a proper order to this sort of thing, you know?

So I'll let Hilbert go first.

Bianca told me you've been looking for me.

Yeah...

I thought about you a lot during my travels.

Our run-ins, our battles, and...

what you taught me.

I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for you.

N...

Don't even sweat it!

That's what friends are for, you know?

*chuckle* True...

We are friends.

Speaking of which, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about!

What is it?

Before you left to go on your journey...

you told me I should make my dream come true... and that you believed I could do it...

Then you just up and left after saying good-bye! I mean, what gives?!

Give me a chance to respond, at least!

... ... ...

Pfft! Ahahahaha!

You've been looking for me all this time just to tell me that?

D-don't laugh! Maybe it's a little childish, but...

No, I'm sorry. That really was selfish of me, wasn't it.

Let me make it up to you. I plan on staying on Pasio for a while, anyway.

Instead of good-bye this time, maybe I should say...

see you soon!