Unova region, outskirts around Twinleaf City, a desolate wilderness.

A full day had passed since they received the "mentor's" order.

The grass rustled. Three furtive figures parted the grass and peeked out, heads stacked on top of one another, lying prone and pulling out a spyglass.

Meowth pressed down Jessie’s long red hair, climbed onto Jessie’s head, aimed the spyglass at the distance, and murmured, “The boss told us to investigate that guy called N… he should be here, meow~”

In the spyglass image, a blurry youth stood by some ruins in the distance, turning his head to look back.

Jessie lowered her head;

a crease formed on her forehead like the character “well” as she clenched her fists. “Finish the recon and get down here quick—you're about to ruin my hair!”

At the bottom of the human pyramid, James complained, “Have you gotten fat, Jessie?”

“What did you say?!”

A Poké Ball at Jessie’s hip popped open with a bang and released a flash of white light. Wobbuffet saluted and called out loudly, “So—”

Before he finished, the trio’s expressions changed. Their balance faltered and, with cries of “ow,” they tumbled into a heap.

Thrown to the ground, Wobbuffet managed, “Nnss~!”

“Don’t throw out your Pokémon willy-nilly, Wobbuffet!” Jessie shouted.

Wobbuffet went pale and shrank behind James. James awkwardly waved his hand. “Okay, okay, boss’s orders are important~”

“Oh no, meow!” Meowth fumbled with the spyglass, panicking. “That guy is being surrounded by others, meow!”

Jessie and James shouted in unison, “What?!”

The tall green-haired youth removed his baseball cap. His thin shirt and long hair fluttered in the wind as he turned to look toward the three looming black figures approaching.

“It’s been a while.”

He spoke;

his voice was gentle and measured like a musical interval, his eyelids drooping. He didn’t seem to be addressing the newcomers so much as observing the cube-like pendant at his waist—the “Mengge Sponge.”

“Mister N, we must ask you to return.”

A woman in a Team Plasma uniform spoke politely.

The three masked members maintained a triangular formation and slowly closed in on the green-haired youth.

Their leader, a woman named Anjie, had sharp eyes.

“You know that Team Plasma needs you to orchestrate everything.”

“Is that so.” N answered calmly. “Or to become a puppet?”

“Liberating Pokémon in the Unova region is your mission.” Anjie said sternly.

“I am tired.” N held his cap and said softly, “Over the past two years I’ve heard many beautiful voices. Those Pokémon do not hate humans;

they even possess emotions as precious as ours…”

“Mister N!” Anjie cut into his recollection, voice harsh. “You should be completing the arrangements left by Lord Ghetsis.”

“Father…”

At the familiar name, a faint light flickered in N’s dim eyes, then quickly faded. His tone grew cold.

“Harming Pokémon, playing with their feelings… I have no reason to go back.”

“Is that so—”

Anjie narrowed her eyes and produced a Poké Ball. “I heard you do not want Pokémon to be hurt, that you don’t even want them to fight…”

She tossed the Poké Ball. “Then go, Liepard!”

Her subordinates tossed their Poké Balls at the same time. “Go, Weavile! Go, Seviper!”

Three red beams of light struck the ground, surrounding N.

The three Pokémon, razor-toothed and clawed, bristled with killing intent and glared at N as they advanced.

A faint glint appeared in N’s gloomy eyes. He looked up at Liepard and opened his arms. “It’s okay… it’s already over.”

The three Team Plasma members froze.

Liepard bared its fangs and straightened up, leaning against N’s chest, sticking out its tongue to lick his cheek.

Seviper coiled up N’s arm but made no move to bite. N reached out and stroked Weavile’s head;

the latter closed its eyes.

“How… how is this possible?!” Anjie’s voice went hoarse;

an inexplicable fear made her shiver.

A male subordinate swallowed. “An-A njie ma'am, that’s what Lord Ghetsis described—the power to bewitch Pokémon!”

“Bewitch?”

N’s green hair fluttered in the wind. Surrounded by baring fangs and claws, he put his cap back on. His gaze was dim, icy, and full of sorrow.

“I only heard their voices and took on their pain.”

“You are,” Anjie ground her teeth and said each word deliberately, “a monster born of humans and Pokémon.”

“Ghetsis said so.”

N extended his arm. “Now I think so too.”

At that moment, the three Pokémon lunged at Anjie.

In an instant, their movements staggered. Blue electricity surged across their bodies as they writhed in pain.

“What’s happening?” N sensed intense agony and his voice turned hoarse and dry. “You—these Pokémon…”

A woman who had been silent took up a red-buttoned controller.

Anjie’s voice was cold. “A device invented by Professor Acerola—your so-called feelings are no match for the power of technology.”

N froze. He could no longer hear the Pokémon’s inner voices;

he only saw their eyes glow crimson as they turned hostile once more toward him.

In a brief wavering moment, N closed his eyes. The pendant at his throat swung with his green hair.

Is that so… emotions can be this fragile.

Acerola—the ruthless scientist who pursued the power of science. He was the one Ghetsis had handpicked as the key for Team Plasma’s follow-up plans.

In a flash, N understood a lot. He was tired;

this journey hadn’t even been told to his two sisters.

A blade-like wind brushed his hair as he tried to rest for a moment.

“Wobbuffet, use Counter!!”

N opened his eyes.

Wobbuffet shimmered in a severe white light and reflected the combined assault of the three Pokémon right back at them!

Boom!!

Black smoke billowed. A shockwave blew past. Anjie crossed her arms.

“Ahem—who the hell are you people?!”

Shing, shing, shing!

The male subordinate looked around dumbfounded. “Eh? Why are there all of a sudden some flashing lights?”

“Since you earnestly asked,” Jessie stepped to the side and posed.

“Then we’ll benevolently tell you!” James held a rose in his mouth.

“To prevent the world from being destroyed, to protect world peace! (Guaranteed)” Jessie declared.

Male subordinate: “Show some respect—don’t just strike a pose there!”

“Emergency measures apply;

the rest is omitted, meow!”

Meowth flexed his claws and strode toward the Team Plasma members.

“Meowth, use Fury Swipes!” James ordered.

Sizzle—

A flurry of white light streaked. Meowth dropped to one knee, arms wide;

the glow around his claws slowly faded.

Thud!

Weavile, Liepard, and Seviper went rigid and crashed to the ground, eyes spinning.

Meowth rose and blew the smoke off his claws, clicking his nails. “Looks like meow’s skills aren’t completely rusty yet, meow~~”

The Team Plasma trio were stunned;

N stood frozen too.

“Team Rocket? Don’t think you can meddle in Unova!” Anjie shouted.

The male subordinate interjected, “You should call yourselves Rocket Delivery now…”

“Shut up!”

The silent female subordinate poked the controller, then stared at Meowth blankly.

“Zozu~~” Meowth wagged a finger and put his hands on his hips. “These little tricks are old hat to Team Rocket, meow~”

Jessie crossed her arms and sneered, “The boss calls that a ‘mind-control device.’ Do you think we don’t know a countermeasure?”

“You just need to jam the signal first…” James shrugged. “Anyway, you plasma trash don’t know about this high-tech stuff.”

Team Plasma’s faces drained and flushed in turn.

They immediately turned and fled like their lives depended on it!

“Team Rocket, just you wait— we’ll come back for you!”

Meowth watched the trio retreat, blinking.

“You stole our line, meow.”

“We used to always get blasted away—now it’s our turn to give trouble.” Jessie got misty-eyed.

James wiped his eyes with his arm, choking up. “S- such a great feeling!”

“You idiots Jessie, James!” Meowth barked exasperatedly. “Chase them now!”

“No need.”

The trio turned in unison and looked toward a man in a brown trench coat emerging from the woods.

The man had messy hair and a weathered face. He took out identification from his coat. “Interpol, codename ‘Handsome Guy.’ I’m here on orders to investigate Team Plasma.”

He fixed his gaze on the silent green-haired youth;

his look said everything.

“I understand.” N smiled faintly and slowly raised both hands. “I will cooperate.”

At the same moment, sirens wailed around the ruins. Officer Jenny arrived on a motorcycle and surrounded the three Team Plasma members.

Click!

The flash of silver handcuffs blinked;

Anjie’s face went pale.

The female subordinate looked calm. “We’re under arrest.”

The male subordinate muttered, “What an annoying feeling!”

“Both of you shut up!”

Handsome Guy breathed a sigh as he looked at the captured Team Plasma officers and then at the trio standing tall.

“What are you staring at?” Jessie put her hands on her hips.

“Rocket Delivery is a lawful organization—legit!” James proclaimed.

“I know… and I must thank you as well.”

Handsome Guy smiled. “I don’t know why you were here, but your contribution to local Unova safety is undeniable.”

“Not bad yourself, meow~” Meowth sidled up to the middle-aged man and winked.

They shook hands.

The trio and the Interpol agent shared a conspiratorial smile.

N was about to heal the three fallen Pokémon when Wobbuffet pinned them with Mirror Coat, and four cold gazes swivelled and glanced their way.

“I understand~”

N raised both hands and gave an helpless smile.

“I will cooperate… besides, I’m curious about this Meowth too.”

Meowth crossed his arms, puzzled.

He actually seems to speak Pokémon language… what a strange fellow.

Doesn’t matter—this definitely counts as a big win this time!

The boss will definitely pat my head and praise me, meow~~

“Actually, not that amazing~ meow~” Meowth basked in daydreaming and scratched his head sheepishly.

Handsome Guy watched N with a deep look.

Is this the person Head Detective asked me to tail?

I hope this reckless action didn’t ruin the detective’s plan.

I’ll report to the sir first and then decide…

“Did you capture N?!” Lu Ye exclaimed, stunned.

Handsome Guy cleared his throat. “We only took custody for his safety… he was attacked by Team Plasma members on the way here, so we had to intervene.”

Lu Ye immediately understood.

So this N defected from Team Plasma after events in Black &

White 2.

Though still obsessive, he’s easier to get along with than during Black &

White.

Let hot-blooded idiot Ash talk things through with him and he’ll recover soon.

“Also, at the scene we saw Team Rocket. They helped Officer Jenny defeat those Team Plasma members.”

Handsome Guy paused. “They’re three rather excellent fellows.”

Teacher Lu’s mood was complicated.

His subordinates from both sides ended up cooperating?

Three more years.

I’m nearly an old-timer undercover in both Interpol and Team Rocket!

“Ahem, I understand.”

Lu Ye cleared his throat. “I’ll reach Twinleaf City shortly.”

“But we don’t have grounds to detain N—only up to 24 hours at most.”

“Then release him first and tail him,” Lu Ye said. “Also arrange a meeting—tell him the detective wants to see him.”

“What if he refuses?”

“Tell him it concerns the Twin Dragon legend;

he’ll agree to meet me.”

“Understood.”

“And those three Team Rocket members?”

“Oh, they’ve already left.”

Handsome Guy recalled the trio’s performance and said admiringly, “I don’t know whose subordinates they are… if they switched sides, they’d be promising recruits!”

Maybe the other side thought the same…

“Did N mention Team Plasma’s future plans?” Lu Ye asked.

Handsome Guy’s face turned serious. “He said he didn’t know—didn’t seem to be lying. But N mentioned a Team Plasma scientist.”

“Who?”

“Professor Acerola.”

……

Unova region, Twinleaf City Interpol branch.

N looked at the brown trench-coated man who had entered the office and said, “May I go?”

“You may.” Handsome Guy replied. “But Detective Lu wants to schedule a time to talk with you about the Twin Dragon legend.”

N was silent for a long time. He truly had been searching for the legendary Dragon Stone, hoping it could atone for past wrongs.

“Tomorrow morning, at the Twinleaf City Pokémon Center.” N stood up. “You’ll tail me, so I won’t go far.”

Handsome Guy fell silent. N turned and met the agent’s eyes.

“There’s a strong sadness in your heart… is your Pokémon injured?”

The man in the brown trench coat hadn’t intended to speak. But seeing N’s sincere gaze, he said after a long pause, “My partner Pokémon is at the Twinleaf City Pokémon Center receiving treatment…”

Croagunk’s days are numbered. The man didn’t finish the sentence.

“I will do my best to help it.” N looked down at a glow in his palm and lowered his eyes. “But I can’t promise anything…”

Handsome Guy hesitated, then accompanied N quietly.

They watched the green-haired youth’s figure fade beneath the streetlights and into the night.

N walked to an alley. The Team Rocket trio leaned against the wall waiting for him.

“Hello, Meowth.” The green-haired youth smiled.

“Don’t get buddy-buddy with Meowth, meow.” Meowth narrowed his eyes. “Why can you speak Pokémon language?”

“That’s a long story… I don’t think you’d be interested.”

“Hey.” Jessie crossed her arms and cut to the chase. “Would you like to join Team Rocket?”

N blinked. Seeing their sincere expressions, he shook his head. “Thank you for the offer… but I haven’t found the answer yet.”

“What answer, meow?”

“The answer to ideal versus reality. What is the best way for humans and Pokémon to coexist? Keep them in Poké Balls or leave them free? Treat them as tools for battle or forge emotional bonds…” N’s words rushed out, his cap tilted, his gloomy pupils burning with an unusual fervor as he spread his arms wide.

Jessie and James stared at N, blinking desperately to understand—but to no avail.

‘This guy… is he out of his mind?’ Jessie and James thought.

Meowth fell silent. He had once doubted whether he was human or Pokémon, and he murmured, “Meowth thinks—whether human or Pokémon—being with someone you love is enough. Hope you find your answer soon, meow.”

The green-haired youth’s eyes flickered;

he remained mute.

Moonlight filled the alley. Under the full moon, N and Meowth—who perched on a trash can—locked eyes and gradually smiled as they reached out and shook hands.

A Meowth who wished to be human, and N—half human, half Pokémon—both had been labeled monsters.

Even if called monsters, they still found companions willing to accept them, meow~

Meowth thought and glanced at James and Jessie.

“Take Meowth away already.” Jessie leaned in and whispered. “If this goes on, Meowth will turn silly.”

“Makes sense.” James nodded, tucked the struggling Meowth under his arm, and laughed. “Well then, mister, we’ll be off. Sorry to bother you!”

The tall green-haired youth tipped his cap and smiled.

“Oh, there’s something I’d like to ask you—might be abrupt…” N reached out to stop them.

Meowth dropped back to the ground and looked at N. “Tell me, meow. Meowth doesn’t promise to deliver, meow~”

“Rocket Delivery has contacts in the Kalos region.”

N lowered his eyes and said thoughtfully, “If possible… I’d like you to deliver a letter to Mr. Lu Ye.”

“Mr. Lu Ye?!!” The trio were startled.

N lifted his puzzled eyes. “I heard he will be coming to the Unova region to attend the opening ceremony of the World Championships Junior Cup.”

“Champion Alder didn’t give me the answer I wanted…”

N spoke very quietly, “That champion people call Teacher… maybe he has a different inner voice.”

The trio looked at one another and stepped aside to whisper.

“We should report to the boss…”

“But this guy seems smooth-talking, meow.”

“Who’s conning who is still up in the air!”

“You didn’t reveal my identity, did you?”

Lu Ye asked quietly after hearing the trio’s report.

“Of course not, meow!”

Meowth’s forehead beaded with sweat as he rubbed his hands and grinned awkwardly. “We just felt sorry for that N fellow and had a soft moment, so we agreed to help, meow~”

N and Meowth certainly shared similarities;

both had wondered whether they were human or Pokémon.

That existential question, even the mighty Mewtwo couldn’t fully answer.

But as long as one keeps moving forward, a new path will open.

Lu Ye stood at the airport in Unova’s Twinleaf City, having politely declined Curator Fenglu’s invitation. Phone in hand, he said decisively, “I’ll arrive at Twinleaf City shortly.”