You Can Be My Hero-Prologue-

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Prologue

Alder nodded to N one last time as he turned away to help Cheren with Ghetsis, who, to no one's surprise, was screaming like the mad man he is. The former king of Team Plasma turned to me, his blue-green eyes twinkling. Whether they were twinkling because he was about to cry or if he was actually somewhat happy, I would never know.

"I want to talk to you about something," he said, lightly grasping my hand as he led me up the carpet, allowing me to observe the damage from the two previous battles. Looking amoungst what had once been Team Plasma's throne room gave me images of the last time I had seen my own room, right before I had left for my Pokemon journey. "And Cheren had thought that was a mess...." I thought to myself as we reached the thickest part of the destruction, a larger area where a throne once stood.

N stepped over what had once been a piece of the cieling, his green hair frantically blowing as the wind met with it. I gulped, wondering how high we must have been. I had never been afraid of heights, but I figured that this must be the highest part of the fortress, seeing as how we could see clouds. He turned to me, and the suddenly clear skies allowed the sun to illuminate him in a dramatic way, causing me to brush my Samurott's pokeball, now resting on my bag strap once again, for comfort.

"It's about when I first met you in Accumula Town," he started, pulling his baseball cap off his head to look at it. "I was shocked when I heard what your Pokémon was saying. I was shocked because that Pokémon said it liked you. It said it wanted to be with you." I smiled at the memory. That had only been hours after I had met my starter pokemon, Hyro, and we were already close. I looked at N, but instead of smiling like I was, he was staring back at me, as though trying to solve a puzzle. Despite the fact that he did this quite often, I ducked my head to avoid his disconcerting gaze.

"I couldn't understand it," he spat, causing me to look back at him, to see his eyes flashing with conflicting emotions. "I couldn't believe there were Pokémon that liked people. Because, up until that moment, I'd never known a Pokémon like that.

"The longer my journey continued, the more unsure I became. All I kept meeting were Pokémon and people who communicated with one another and helped one another. That was why I needed to confirm my beliefs by battling with you. I wanted to confront you hero-to-hero. I needed that more than anything," he said, reddening a bit. He turned a bit, facing the hole that Zekrom had created when crashing towards his Hero.

"There's no way a person like me, someone who understands only Pokémon— No, actually… I didn't understand them, either. No way could I measure up to you, when you had met so many Pokémon and were surrounded by friends…" I rubbed my eyes, trying to prevent them from watering. It wasn't true that he didn't understand them. It wasn't true that he didn't have friends! That's what we were, wasn't it?

The next few words he whispered, and I had to strain to hear him above the howling wind. "The Champion has forgiven me, and… What I should do now is something I'll have to decide for myself." N turned to me, smiling in a way very different from the slightly-crazed look he had had when he was summoning Team Plasma's fortress. Before I knew what I was doing, I reached out, grasping his arm desperately.

"You.... Aren't leaving me, are you?" I asked shakily, tightenning my grip on him. The former king of Team Plasma looked taken aback, like he always did when I spoke against his ideas. That look told me that I had hit a bulls-eye. Why else would he be slowly moving closer to the ledge? N quickly recomposed himself, though, patting me on the top of the head as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He somehow managed to free himself from my death-grip, turning toward the ledge as he detatched a pokeball from his belt. "No...." I whispered as N sent out Zekrom, who roared in greeting.

My own Dragon Legendary, Reshiram, stepped up from behind, and I realized that I had never withdrawn her after the battle field. "Touko, I know this may hurt, but this seperation is neccessary. At least for now." I glanced up at the Deep White Pokemon, still not quite used to the echoing loud voice that interrupted my thoughts whenever Reshiram spoke to me. Reshiram's eyes met Zekrom's, and she closed her clear blue eyes, nodding. As much as hearing what she said made my head spin, it annoyed me when she silently communicated with the other Dragon all the same.

N climbed onto the Deep Black Pokemon's back, smiling at me as he did earlier. "There's nothing to smile about here!" I wanted to scream, but I knew that he'd go on smiling anyways. This was the first decision that he was really making for himself, and I would hate to take it away from him.

"Touko! You said you have a dream… That dream… Make it come true! Make your wonderful dream a reality, and it will become your truth! Touko! If anyone can, it's you! Well, then… Farewell!" Even though I knew what he was planning, my eyes widenned before I told myself to man up.

"N!!" I screamed, holding back tears as he continued flying away. I glanced at Reshiram, telling her the message with my eyes. "I just have to say one last thing." Reshiram roared, causing N's hand to fly to his head in pain. I winced with him, knowing how powerful she sounded. To my amazement, N and Zekrom turned back, N not only looking pained but a little annoyed, avoiding my gaze.

"N," I started, causing him to look at me. "If you're leaving.... At least give me something to remember you by." At first, N looked confused, then took off his hat. Just as I was about to tell him I had a hat, he pulled off his necklace, tossing it to me from Zekrom's back. After I had put it on, and was about to say thank you, Team Plasma's king was gone.

The other Hero..... Was gone.

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"Doctor!" I knew I recognized the voice, but my mind was ringing. "But why would Reshiram be calling for a doctor when N and I are the only ones who can understand her? Unless this is some absolutely bizarre dream where N had signed up for medical school," I thought as i opened my eyes to blinding florescent blue lights.

Suddenly, a hand was resting over mine, the same voice from before mumbling small nonsense. I tried opening my eyes again. "Mom?" She smiled, wrapping her hand, which had been the one resting on mine, around the hand it rested against. "It's okay, sweetie. Everything's going to be okay." I sat up, causing my head to throb some more.

"What kind of doctor's office is this?" I asked, meeting her gentle teal eyes before taking in my surroundings. Despite the fact that it looked the same as most doctor's offices do, it lacked the... Feel, of most, I suppose. Instead of feeling like you'd get even worse then you currently felt, it felt as though some serious surgeries had been taken out here, despite the lollipop jar on the counter.

"I'm here!" I swiveled my head towards the door, where who I supposed was the doctor stood. Although he wore the typical doctor's garments, his hair was spiked in all directions, and was a neon yellow. "Doctor!" Mom cried, leaping up from my side. "As you can see, my daughter is awake. Where's the officer?"

The doctor frowned, glancing at me. "I think he just had to check something on the PC. So, how do you feel, Champ?" My jaw dropped as I stared at him.

"S-sir! I'm not the Champion!" The doctor frowned. "You're not? But I heard the Champion was defeaten by some teenager a few days ago...." Days?! N had beat Alder days ago?! My mother laughed as she picked up a lollipop, unwrapping it and popping it in her mouth in order to somewhat satisfy her constant sweet-tooth.

"No, my daughter didn't beat Alder. A..." she hesitated, meeting my blue stare before continuing, "Acquintance of hers beat the Champion in a pokemon battle. She battled him and won, but not for the selfish needs of beating the Pokemon League. She smiled, winking at the doctor. "I figured you, of all people, Doctor, would know the difference. You are head of the INTERPOL's medical, afterall."

INTERPOL?!

The doctor glared at my mom, holding his finger to his lips. "Not so loud."

"Whyever not? We are in the private headquaters."

PRIVATE HEADQUATERS?!?

"Anyways," the doctor continued as another figure entered the room, "If you beat the person who beat the Champion, that makes you the Champion, no?" He helped himself to a lollipop of his own as my mother shook her head.

"No, because he wasn't legally registered in the Hall of Fame, thus meaning that Alder is still the Unova League Champion," she explained as the new man took out a folder, glancing at me as he took out a sketch from the mayhem that inhabited his beige file.

The doctor turned to the file-weilding man, smiling. "Well, it doesn't make any difference to me either way. Hey, Looker. Did you find what you needed?" Looker met the doctor's eyes, his chesnut eyes very serious and stern.

"Ghetsis managed to escape. The Shadow Triad created an opening, and thus he managed to break away from that Cheren and Alder. It would appear that the Shadow Triad are still in Unova somewhere, though...." Looker trailed off, glancing at something that rested on the table beside the cot I lay on. "Where did you get that?" I followed his gaze to see N's necklace. Unsure of my motivation, I hastily snatched it, placing it around my neck, where I guess it now sort of belonged.

Looker shook his head, as though clearing it of any nonsense. "Despite the fact that Team Plasma has disbanded. there are still many questions that remain. What does "N" stand for? Are N and Ghetsis father and son? So much to be known..." I suddenly swung my legs over the bed, causing the three adults to scutter backwards in surprise.

"Don't," I began with a hiss, "even think  of wrapping me into this. I'm done with Team Plasma, okay?" Looker grinned, sending chills down my spine.

"That's exactly what Ghetsis thinks. Touko, you were the one person who was able to stand up to Team Plasma. Now that your region specifically isn't in danger..."

"Unova isn't even in trouble, and you're asking me to help?" I asked, my voice wavering. He barely knew me, and he wanted to use me as he tool?

"Well, yes. But Touko, imagine the trouble Ghetsis could cause to those who have not yet been targetted by him? And I believe Alder, the current Champion, told me something about a boy named N..."

My mother suddenly looked interested. "What did Alder tell you about N? Just out of curiousity. I mean, occasionally, when I would phone Touko, she would mention him..." I flushed a deep red, tightenning my grip on the necklace. What exactly was my mom trying to pull?

Looker glanced down at his papers. "'Before leaving with Ghetsis, I had a quick talk with N, former king of Team Plasma. It would appear the kid was traumatized quite a bit by Ghetsis's wrath. It was a hard thing to wake up to, I suppose. I'm not sure on what he plans on doing now, but I think he'll be leaving Team Plasma behind for good. I do believe N and Touko had a conversation after I left, and Cheren noted later on while she was unconcious that she wore his necklace. Although I was not aware of them being friends, but you never know, right?' That's what Alder said when we interrogated him," the investigator explained.

Thank you, Alder, for telling Looker all about my private life.

The doctor turned to me. "Do you get what Looker's saying? Ghetsis may still be.... Upset about N's.... Failure." There was a clang as a chair hit the floor. I glanced up to see my mother, her turquiose eyes upset and stormy.

"You're trying to take advantage of Touko." It wasn't a question being asked, it was a fact stated, and the doctor clucked his tongue in response as he reached for some medical swabs. Looker, on the other hand, sighed, shuffling his papers together.

"I know it may seem that way, Mrs. White, but please hear me out. There has been a previous case where I've, well, not been able to do anything and had to rely on a child like Touko. To be honest, I'm not the, er, best investigator." I felt a twinge of guilt, but I didn't sit back down like my mother did as she listened. Instead, I wandered closer to the door.

"I'm going to go," I called backm to the adults, who were staring at me incrediously. "I.... I'll look for the Shadow Triad."

And with that, I too, was gone.