After the Fact

Chapter One: Nuvema Town

N

I sighed as I walked down the long, lonely stretch of road. Is this all my life is now? I wondered miserably. It had been two years since that fateful day where my entire life had changed.

He'd finally managed to defeat the Elite Four, even the Champion. He'd summoned the Team Plasma Castle right then and there. But she'd followed him; it seemed that everywhere he turned back then, there she was behind him.

He'd been waiting for her, his Zekrom by his side, and she hadn't disapointed him.

She'd climbed up the stairs, a look of sheer determination on her face. She befriended and captured the Legendary Dragon, Reshiram, within minutes, and turned to look at him.

He'd started doubting his plan right then and there.

Then she'd smiled at him and extended her hand. Let's forget all this petty squabbling, that hand seemed to say. Let's just leave the world as it is, and be friends.

All he had to do was take her hand.

But even though he'd begun to doubt it, he wouldn't give up so soon. He'd challenged her to a battle, and she'd accepted. She'd sent out her new Reshiram and, somehow, she'd defeated Zekrom in two moves.

So he had asked his other friends for help.

Carracosta, Vanilluxe, Zoroark and all the others, they all fought for him.

And they all fell defending him. Defending what he'd once believed to be the truth.

But he smiled through his tears, and she'd smiled back, extending that hand once again.

That soft, warm hand of friendship.

It's over, she'd said. Only the third time he'd heard her voice. It's over, N. Just take my hand, and we can start a new peace. A new world where all people, all Pokemon are happy. Happy and together.

He'd stretched out to grip her hand, but stopped himself. Reaching instead for the brim of his hat, he'd pulled it down over his eyes. Goodbye, he'd said, hopping onto Zekrom. Maybe someday that will be possible. But someday's not today.

Where are you going? she'd asked. He could hear the disapointment and sadness in her tone.

To see the world. I thought I knew what the rest of the world was like-cold and heartless. But then I met you, and I saw how wrong I was. If only even half of the world is as you are, then maybe there is hope. He'd turned away from her then. Maybe someday, we'll meet again. Maybe someday, that world you envisioned will be real.

Goodbye, N, she'd said. I hope we'll meet again, too.

And then he'd flown away.

Ever since then, I'd been wandering the Unova region, watching the Trainers interact with their Pokemon friends. Only twice had I been forced to steal a Trainer's Pokemon, simply to rescue them, set them free.

Thank you, they'd all said. When I asked them about the world, about humans, however, thay all said the same thing:

Don't give up hope, N. Only the few are so cruel.

And now, after circling the region twice, Id become weary. What I wanted to do now was find a small town full of good people, or maybe simply a cabin in the woods, surrounded by Pokemon. But what I wanted most, really, was to meet her again.

Touko, the girl who first gave me hope.

She'd be a woman now, I realized. Sixteen when we'd met, eighteen now. A year younger than I.

There was only one place Id avoided, in all this time, and that was where I decided to go now: Nuvema Town, the town where Touko lived.

I called out Zekrom, who gave a great roar as he was released from the confinements of his Poke Ball. Really, I hated keeping Pokemon locked up in those capsules, but Zekrom was just too big to follow me everywhere in the Unova region.

"Are you ready, Zekrom?" I asked, patting the Legendary's neck scales. "We're going to Nuvema Town."

Finally, the huge Pokemon chuckled. I've been waiting for you to say that for almost two years now. He lowered his head. Hop on.

Nuvema Town was perfect, I thought as Zekrom descended in a grove of trees. After thanking my Pokemon, I returned it to its Ball and entered the tiny community.

Welcome to Nuvema Town! a sign stated. It was painted in bright, cheery colors.

There were only three streets in the whole town: Main Street, where all the stores were, and the residential streets, with ten houses on each one. It shouldn't be too hard to find her house: I could probably walk up to any person in the whole town, and they would be able to tell me where she lived.

Which I did.

"Excuse me," I called to a woman walking out of the grocery store, laden with bags. I took two of the heavy sacks, earning a smile of gratitude.

"What can I help you with, young man?" she asked happily as we strode down the sidewalk.

"Would you be able to tell me where a girl named Touko lives?" we turned a corner, heading toward White Street.

"Oh, yes of course!" the woman replied. "She lives just next door to me! If you'll just drop those bags on my doorstep, I'll point you right to it!"

"I'm very grateful," I said, grinning.

I set the woman's grocery bags just outside her door, and she pointed over to the house right across the road. After thanking the woman once more (and helping her put her groceries away), I walked right over, and prepared to knock on the green-painted door.

Go on, do it! I urged myself. After these two long years, you'll finally be able to see her again! Just knock already!

So I did.

A few seconds later, an older woman with Touko's shining brown hair and blue eyes opened the door. "Hello?" she asked, smiling quizzically. "May I help you?"

I hadn't expected her mother to open the door. "I, er..." I stammered.

Just then, a voice came from behind the woman. "Who is it, Mom? she asked, sounding bright and happy. The door swung open wider, and there she was:

We stared at each other, our eyes wide, and my eyes drank the sight of her in. She hadn't changed much, in the two years since we'd seen each other: Her long brown hair had been cut to just below her shoulders, and she'd grown an inch or two taller, but that was it. She was still the same Touko Id met so long ago.

"...Touko?" I asked, quiet.

"...N?" she replied, grinning.