Today is the day. We’ve traveled through and around Route 10 and Victory Road in our cargo bunker alongside Drayden and the Dark Stone, which has remained still this entire time. Though it doesn’t react itself, my memory episodes have become more and more frequent, playing the same scene over and over again. I’ve been allowed one Pokémon out inside the vehicle to help ail me, being Warren.

“Thank you.”

“Audi.” His palms gift the soft green glow of a Refresh. Drayden listens every time this happens, as I try to explain more and more with each episode. By now I hope he has the full picture, I’m kind of exhausted of repeating minute details he asks me for each time.

“Still don’t know who either of the humans are, then?”

“No. Sorry.”

“Even though it is so clearly N who is the child?”

“Keep saying it all you want, why would that make sense?” He glares at me. I’ve been adamant that the child isn’t N this entire time, despite N claiming he obviously knew me, it just...can’t be. That’s too much of a coincidence. Fate can’t determine things like that so early on for sure.

“Deny it all you want, that man and you are entwined. I hate it.” He clenches his fists. Drayden has gotten more and more tense as the journey has gone. At this point I think he’s two taunts away from clobbering N himself, I make sure to be delicate as I don’t want those fists making friends with my teeth.

The van stops.

“We’re here, guys.” The driver shouts. I hear her open her door, walk around, and the blinding light fills the van. “You boys got a region to save, and I’ve got deliveries to make.”

“Thank you, Sharla.”

“No problem, Mayor. Good luck, Al.” She smiles at me, tipping her cap. Her and her Mienfoo escort us out of the vehicle, welcoming us with the magnificence of the Pokémon League.

A beautiful, elegant, towering structure composed of four chambers in its perimeter, with one soulful statue of a woman raising her hands to the roof in the middle.

“It’s amazing.” I mutter.

“It’s built on the ruins of the ancient castle from the legend. It’s Unova’s most sacred ground...and we’re about to let all hell loose on it. I’m sorry, Relim. Zehn.” Drayden woefully prays. I join in solidarity.

Sharla revs up the van’s engines, driving down Victory Road. Four figures emerge from the chambers: each with increasing eccentricity, and with a more powerful aura as they approach the gates. None of them speak, but they beckon for me.

“They are the Elite Four. Champions of the Pokémon League and subordinates of the Champion himself. They’ll take you to his chamber beyond what is left of what we understand was the entrance to Unova’s Castle. Good luck.” Drayden stands back as the Elite Four lower the gates protecting the League, I bring out my other Pokémon. All of them are more determined than I’ve ever seen them.

“Let’s go.”

***

Making our way up, one of the Elite Four, Grimsley, fills me in with the happenings that have been at the League.

“Yeah, so here’s the gist. It’s been really stressful and annoying having these cultists take over the building. We’ve been hiding in our rooms so we don’t get attacked but we all knew you were coming, so my bet’s on you.” He passes me a coin. Both sides are the same Charizard image.

I ignore him, none of the team seem overly impressed by him either. But best not to get on the bad side of trainers this esteemed.

Climbing the stairway to the Champion’s Chamber we all hear the aggressive flames that instil a familiar fear into us.

“Please understand, staying in our chambers was on the request of our previous Champion. He didn’t want anyone else entering so we set up security.” The sleepy woman speaks up, wiping her eyes with her chiffon dress sleeves.

“Fair.”

Each of the Elite Four stops walking alongside me at different steps, telling me to continue until I reach the top. I thank each of them for their company and oblige.

Reaching the top, I look around, down onto the Elite Four, and back to the entrance of the chamber. I hear my Pokémon’s battle cries around me.

“Auno.” Warren.

“Lill!” Elle.

“Vic!” Finn.

“Gaahl!” Volm.

“Griiii.” Drayn…

“Sahm.” ...Orla.

“We’re all good to go, right?” With the Dark Stone in my arms, we take our first steps inside the chamber we know our enemy rests within.

Entering the room, I can’t help but gaze at the lustrous wonder which is the golden interior. The walls and floor reflect perfectly, plated and adorned with pillars holding up the entire fixture.

Climbing one last set of stairs, we’re welcomed by him: the current champion of Unova.

“Hello, Alec. Kept me waiting, didn’t you?” I stand, holding my ground as my Pokémon lineup in front of me. “Oh how you’ve grown since Dragonspiral Tower, huh? Still not got a clue who I really am?”

“Doesn’t matter, does it.”

“Just as stubborn though. It’s fine, I’ll tell you everything since I’m bored of waiting for you to piece everything together.” He leaves his throne, walking towards me and the research team. He waves his hand in front of all of their faces, ending with Drayn.

“You. I’m glad you’re well.”

“Grii.” Drayn retracts all four of his spectral arms in a sign of pacifism.

“Clever.” The Champion stands back in front of me. “I’ll put it plain and simple. When I was a very, very young child, I resided in a forest far in the depths of the place you know as Galar, the Slumbering Weald. I was born there, I like to believe, but I know it’s because of some parents I never knew couldn’t handle a child now. The Weald, however, is where I met a little boy with grey hair, one from a town close by. One who wouldn’t leave me and my friends alone.” He points at me. “His name was Alec. He asked for my name too, and I told him the truth: I told him what my name was.” I stand shaking, waving at the realisation.

“You. Your name…”

“Go on, Alec. Say my name. I know you know it.” I stutter, I mutter.

“Natural. Natural Harmonia.”

“Congratulations! You had the gall to call me Nate a few times and I’d always scold you because it was wrong. But, that’s why in spite I told you to call me N in Nimbasa! Full circle, right?” N begins to play with the puzzle on his belt as he talks at me. “Why did we ever stop seeing each other though...right that’s it. Your father got mauled by a Pokémon, didn’t he?”

“Grii!” Drayn extends an arm, grappling N by the waist.

“What?” I’m shaking, trembling at the sight of my Pokémon assaulting N.

“That nightmare you keep having, that memory you can’t quite place. That Cofagrigus. They’re all tied to one fateful accident in Galar. A Pokémon with no name attacked us while we were playing in the Slumbering Weald. I know what you’re thinking too. ‘The Legendary Dragon Pokémon!’ Beep! Wrong! Nope! Impossible. It was but a shade, and not even I can remember it’s body, I’m afraid. But we at Team Plasma gave it a name. One I’m afraid I’m not going to tell you.”

“Why can you remember all of this!? Why can’t I...” Well, of course I knew. Post traumatic amnesia. But if it wasn’t Reshiram, Zekrom, or their original form...why was the Dark Stone a trigger?

“All answers you’re not ready to hear, however. You’ve brought the Dark Stone. Now we just need to bring out the big man himself!” He reaches for the orb in my hold, attempting to escape Drayn’s hold.

“No. What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Do you want to see Unova burn? Do you want to take down the Pokémon League? What are you even fighting against this doesn’t make sense at all? What is Team Plasma?” I berate him with all of my questions, but he has one unified answer to respond to all of them.

“I’m just doing what I’m told.” with Reshiram rising from behind his throne.