When I arrived in Nimbasa City a few days ago, I didn’t really have any goal in mind. I just wanted to get away from all the fuss and focus my energy into more research. I went back and looked through the Desert Resort to try and find any clues pertaining to Reshiram or the heroes again but like all the other researchers say online: nothing tying it. Absolutely nothing. I’d asked Terran and Mars to show me around a little more, but every day ended with us coming back to this hotel room and writing up absolutely nothing.

Orla’s been brilliant though, she’s been keeping the research team busy while I’ve been studying, her practicing her writing all throughout. I’ve been asking Finn more questions about the heroes and how they were, to see if I can ascertain anything from what they mime out. No real avail yet though.

“Teeni?”

“What’s up, mate?” Finn tugs sweetly on my jacket to get my attention. A Mythical Pokémon shouldn’t be so powerful and yet so…cute…

I turn to see the team staring out the window, looking onward to Nimbasa’s neon skyline. I suppose working all out for a few days would make them a little antsy, wanting to see the sights.

“Okay. It’s early morning so...I guess we do deserve a break day.” It’s not like I’ve managed to find anything else out. Lenora’s paper pretty much became a moot example when I found Finn, and the research on the Dark Stone is so limited due to Lenora’s thesis on it being connected to Victini. Nonetheless, the team all cheer in unison at the prospect sentiment of a lovely day out.

***

Arriving at the fairground was a sight to behold. From the rustic South East to the metropolis of Castelia this was a city more modern than I’ve ever seen. The shining, bright lights, the Pokémon and people working to entertain. Mars and Elle have already run off to watch street performers.

Orla, Ruff and Terran wander over to the calmer park area, playing on slides, swings, and the merry-go-round. I’ve never been to an amusement park myself, so I don’t even know where to begin.

“Excuse me? Is that Victini yours?” a soft spoken, male voice from behind us. I turn to see a lean young man, not too far in age from myself. His mint green hair is protected by a monochromatic cap.

“Yeah, their name’s Finn.”

“It is? Hello, Finn.” He takes off his cap, Finn excitedly waving and sitting in it.

“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask.

“Me? Not in particular. Just wondering how someone like you had met such an incredible Pokémon.” I examine him, he is without a pelt on his waist, so he can’t be a trainer himself.

“It’s a long story.”

“No, it’s really not. Finn here already told me all about it.” What? I know Finn’s been murmuring to him this whole exchange but, what?

“My apologies, I should introduce myself.” The mysterious whisperer returns his cap to his head, taking a second to think.

“My name is N.”

“N?” That can’t be his actual name, right?

“A moniker but yes, N.” Fair enough.

“Would you like to go on a ride with me?”

And just like that I was whisked away onto the largest ferris wheel I’d ever seen. I don’t even remember walking here. Or saying yes. I just joined him.

“You first.”

“Right, yeah.”

Once we’re on the wheel and the operator starts the ride itself, he begins to talk. Slowly and succinctly.

“Your Victini trusts you a lot, telling me about your stories. Your travels.” I nod instinctively.. “Finn says that you’ve been looking for people as a side job to your research shenanigans. Right?” I nod again. “What if I were to tell you I knew something about Reshiram nobody else on this planet knows?”

I snap my head from the sights outside to N’s face. He’s smiling, kind and gentle. But his words are uttered with a touch of bite.

“What is it?”

“I’d like you to come with me to the Pokémon Musical.”

“What about Reshiram?”

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Especially about your little collapses, and how Reshiram is the Unova region’s paragon of truth.”

The ride felt like no time had passed and before I know it we’re back at the bottom. A full cycle. N gets off the ride and I follow. He lets me gather my Pokémon, all of them meeting him one by one.

***

I don’t like him. I don’t like how he thinks he can understand us.

“I like his belt toy, I think it’s neat.”

“That’s great, Ruff. But how can he understand what we’re saying, that’s not...normal.” I won’t have it. Mars and Elle look so happy though.

“Ohmigosh, ohmigosh! The musical! I could die for it! Orla you know I’ve always wanted to perform and Mars over here would be the perfect partner!”

“She’s right, she’s right! Musical time, musical time!” I can’t argue...it’d be nice seeing someone around here get exactly what they’ve always wanted.

“What’s the verdict, Orla?” Terran...don’t make me decide again…

***

“Let me just see if they really want to go, okay?” N nods, smiling again. I don’t know how much more I can handle that sickly smile of his.

“So, what do you say? Orla?” She seems to have collected everyone’s thoughts, and nods in agreement, clutching one of her shells. I can’t blame her.

***

On the way to the theatre, N talks at me the entire walk. I try not to listen, I’m only here because of the promise of Reshiram stuff, not all this weird chit chat. Something this, something that. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve seen him before though.

“Everything alright, Alec?”

“What? Yeah, sure.”

As we enter the theatre, the glimmering neon lights from the amusement park mirror themselves in this dainty, classical environment. Where there was a bar of striking green in the park is a Chandelure shaped ornament swinging in the balconies.

“So, which would you like to see? ‘Meloetta Knight’s Dream’ is my favourite, personally, but anything written by Lakespeare is good for me.” I honestly can’t say I know much about musicals or theatre in general. But I guess Elle and Mars are excited.

“How about asking those two?”

“Can do!” He promptly bends down and begins intently listening to them. “They want to star in ‘Oricorio and Floette’!”

“I can’t believe that actually worked.”

“Hm?” Uh oh.

“‘Oricorio and Floette’, right!” I fumble over to get the tickets, but N stops me before I get my wallet out.

“No, no. This isn’t how we’re getting in.”

“Excuse me?”

“We need to do what they want to do, that’s how you listen to the Pokémon!” Without having the time to reason with N he pulls me past a security guard, through corridors, and into the wings of the stage.

“What the heck do you think you’re doing!?” He puts small costumes onto Mars and Elle respectively.

“What? Are you upset with me?”

“We just broke into a theatre and now you’re...putting my Pokémon on stage!?”

“Shh...it’s almost time.”

“What do you mean!?”

“You’ll see.” And in that moment...the show begins.

***

It was great. Mars and Elle were brilliant. They danced in sync with the rest of the Pokémon despite having never having been on stage themselves. Looking over to N, he was smiling, large and beaming. He tipped his cap to the Pokémon as they meander back to the wings.

“You two were fantastic!” Elle and Mars cheer collectively. A stagehand approaches us from the tech station behind us.

“Are you two the trainers of this Petilil and Darumaka?”

“Those would be Alec’s, this strapping man here.” He pats me lightly on the shoulder. The stagehand gives me a large golden rock.

“Oh are you two the backup trainers? We're so lucky you came when you did. Our leads for today have gone missing and these two filled the parts perfectly! I had no idea they could get a hold of you guys so quickly-”

“What did you say?” I interrupt him. Not again. Not thieves.

“Yeah these weirdos came in and stole the Petilil and Darumaka who were meant to play Oricorio and Floette. Wait where did the green guy go?” I turn around. N has disappeared.

“Weird guy, but yeah, this is the Sun Stone we were gonna give the original Petilil as a gift. Payment! Since you’re this little lady’s trainer and she did a better job than we could even imagine, here ya go!” He hands me a business card and promptly escorts us to the foyer. What just happened?

When we arrive, there is a strikingly beautiful woman staring at the stagehand. She’s accompanied by a pair of small rodent-like Electric Pokémon atop her shoulders, playing with her twin locks of hair.

“Jake, who’s this?”

“Alec! He’s the trainer who saved the show!”

“What? No, I didn’t do anything.”

“That was a perfect performance, and those Pokémon are some of the happiest I’ve ever seen. You really know how to find ‘em, Jake.” She bends down, petting Mars.

“Oh you know me, Elesa. Gotta get the hottest talent in the industry!”

“How’s the studio development going?”

“Good! Good! We finally got land in the south west to develop-”

“I’m sorry but can I go now?” I finally pipe up. These entertainment types always like to forget that the world outside of their circle isn’t interested.

“Right, yeah, sure. Here’s a Gym Badge to say thanks by the way. That was the best rendition of ‘Oricorio and Floette’ I’ve ever seen.” She sticks it directly onto my lapel. “Speaking of, you yourself are quite the looker, aren’t you? Got some nice build on your pecs too. I’m sure we can find a job for you too, if ever need be.” I respectfully decline. She slides her business card into my pocket. “Stay in touch, hun.”

As we leave, I feel a tug on my jeans.

“What’s up, Mars?”

***

“So let me get this straight, in the time you’ve been gone you’ve not only caught a thief, you’ve saved a Pansear, got knocked out and saved by a Gym Leader not once but twice, and you’ve had a melodramatic goodbye with five Pokémon?” Act dismissive all you want, Hannah, losing a research member is hard.

“Mars wasn’t melodramatic! He wanted to join the musical troupe, so I just listened to what he wanted. I asked Terran before letting him stay too, so there’s that.”

“Wow maybe that N guy got to you about the whole ‘listen to your Pokémon’ shtick.” I can hear Prim snidely agreeing in the static of the phone call.

“Yeah, well. It’s not like I didn’t listen to them in the first place.”

“I know, you’re a stand-up guy, Alec. So, what’re you gonna do now? Stay in Nimbasa?”

“I don’t think so…but I don’t know where to go.” I can hear her chopping vegetables down the call. Is she even listening?

“Sorry bud, can’t help you there. Prim and I are kinda in the middle of food prep for the café, but I heard from Aurea that Driftveil’s pretty nice this time of year! Why don’t you go? It’s a lot like Nuvema, if I remember from contest days, you sound a little homesick.” She’s got a point.

“Thanks Hannah.”

“Anytime, love you bud. Stay safe and call more, okay!?” I hang up.

Driftveil City it is. Joined by my research team of five.

I can’t shake the feeling that throughout this whole, weird day, we were being watched.