After staying at Team Plasma for a long time, I think it is time to talk to Rood. But when I find him at Liberty Garden, I am surprised to find two people who I can't believe are members of Team Plasma.

"Lord N, it is an honor to meet you here. I shall introduce you to my grandchildren Nate and Rosa here." Rood says.

"It is nice to meet you." Nate and Rosa bow to me, and I can't believe this... Nate and Rosa's family are one of the 18 influential families of Team Alpha, but now they're Team Plasma members?

I say, "Rood, I never knew you had two grandchildren. But it sure is nice to meet you."

Rood says, "Lord N, our goal from Ghetsis is tasking with find information on the Mythical Pokémon Victini so that its power may be used to bring victory for Team Plasma."

"I see. Victini is known as the victory Pokemon." I say, "And this island. Liberty Island... is an island symbol of hope for a world where humans and Pokémon live free."

I close my eyes and say, "Though I've been pondering our mission and Ghetsis's vision for a world without Pokémon trainers. Do you ever question if there's another, less painful way to achieve our goals?"

Rood nods thoughtfully and says, "N, you've always had a deep empathy for Pokémon. It's one of your most admirable qualities. I've had similar thoughts, to be honest."

I look at him with an eager face, "You have, Rood? It's just... seeing trainers part with their Pokémon in Accumula Town and the turmoil it causes them—it doesn't sit right with me."

"I share your concern, N. While Ghetsis believes our methods are necessary to free Pokémon from human exploitation, I wonder if there's room for more compassion in our approach." Rood nods.

I sigh in relief, "I'm glad to hear you say that, Rood. I want to find a way to help trainers and Pokémon understand our cause willingly, without causing pain."

"Your desire for a gentler path is commendable, N. But we must tread carefully. Our loyalty to Ghetsis and Team Plasma is essential, but perhaps we can work to influence our leader in a more compassionate direction."

"While I'm also searching for a way to help trainers and Pokemon understand our cause, I also found something interesting." I say. "Back at Castelia City, I assume you've encountered Burgh? After researching about him, I find that he's a member of a group known as Team Alpha."

Both Nate and Rosa flinch after I mention it, while Rood seems not to be fazed. I say, "Team Alpha has a similar goal to ours, but their methods are quite more aggressive compared to ours."

Rood says, "Why are you asking about this? Are you suspecting me a member of Team Alpha?"

"Of course, not. Rood. Of all the Seven Sages, you are actually the one that I feel like I can get close to, other than Ghetsis of course." I say. "I just want some information about the group."

"Team Alpha is a group formed in a region known as the Sevestar Region. Like we have seven sages, they have 18 families as their watchers and they fight every crime. There isn't any death of Team Plasma, but I heard that other teams have a lot of deaths caused by them."

"And why is Team Plasma not their target? Doesn't that seem fishy?" I ask, and then I notice a Chandelure behind me. I ask, "Rood? What's the meaning of this?"

"Lord N. I'm sorry, I do not wish things to turn out to be this way." Before Rood can have his Chandelure attack me, I say, "Rood, before you attack, I want to ask you, are you really a part of Team Alpha that is spying against Team Plasma?"

Rood closes his eyes and says, "If you want the truth, my family is a part of Team Alpha. Lord N, I'm sorry that I disappointed you."

I say, "You're not disappointing me, Rood. Even if I was adopted by Ghetsis a few years ago, I actually came from a family of Team Alpha."

I take off my disguise and Nate and Rosa gasp, "Ash!" "You're N?"

I nod and Rood says, "Shouldn't you be in the Hoenn Region right now? That's what I heard from your father..."

"I use Double Team to split myself when I was seven years old, but I was not alone. Anthea and Concordia... they are Minami and Lillie also sharing the same fate as me." I say. "We are tasked to stop Ghetsis and disband Team Plasma. But we realize that our power is not enough and we need help."

Rood nods and says, "I see. If that's the case, I will have to tell you everything about Team Plasma from the start."

As we are secluded in the Liberty Garden, Rood says, "This information has to be kept a secret. I don't want anyone to find out about this, it might cause trouble for both Team Plasma and Team Alpha."

"Why would Team Alpha be in trouble?" I ask with confusion.

"This may be shocking to you... but the truth is Ghetsis himself... is a Darker version of your father Adam." Rood says with a solemn tone, and I can't believe what I'm hearing.

"My Dad? Ghetsis is my Dad? He acts nothing like it..." I say. "He acts just the opposite of him!"

"You are right about that. For Team Alpha members, some of the families are aura users, and they will undergo a phase known as the Dark Phase." Rood says.

"Dark Phase?" Nate asks.

"The Dark Phase is a phase that has the opposite personality of the normal Aura user or Arceus. There are two ways to stop this, one is to split your Dark Phase and destroy it completely, and the other one is to force an impact to clean the darkness in the heart. Your father, Adam Ketchum, tries the first one, he tries to split the Dark Phase and destroy it completely, however, the Dark Phase escapes, and becomes Ghetsis."

"Why would my Dad let his Dark Phase escape?" I ask.

"Just because it is dark doesn't mean that it is evil." Rood says. "And he is also the one who allows Ghetsis to find the other 6 people, including me. The better way to find the people you trust... is from the families of Team Alpha."

"So you mean the Seven Sages and the grunts... all of them are from Team Alpha?" I ask.

"Yes, as long as Ghetsis hasn't shown his evil plans, it will be just fine." Rood says. "That's what we believe."

"If they are from Team Alpha, then can you tell me the true identities of the Seven Sages?" I say.

"That you have to find out on your own, I can only reveal two of them to you. Gorm and Bronius are from the Sinnoh Region, and they are from the Berlitz and the Shirona Family."

The news is shocking to me, I say, "I see... thank you for sharing this information with me. In exchange, I should tell you that to stop Team Plasma, I think Hilbert and Hilda are two people who might be the ones who will finish the job."

"Is that so..." Rood nods. "If that's the case, I'm looking forward to seeing those two's actions."

After bidding farewell to Rood, I go back to Anthea and Concordia and tell them everything. Anthea says, "You're kidding... Ghetsis is our father all this time?"

"And Team Plasma members are all made up of Team Alpha members?" Concordia says, "This makes no sense at all..."

"It is obvious that our father, being an Arceus, was able to sway the minds of some grunts to make them evil." I say. "And that's why we're here. We want to make sure the Dark Phase of our Dad is gone."

'After arriving in Nimbasa City, I feel someone bump into me. When I turn around, I find that it is Hilda, who seems to be tired. I offer her to have a ride on the Ferris Wheel with me, and she seems to fall asleep before the car reaches to the top.

When she wakes up and finds that I'm the one who's in front of her, she gasps, "N..."

"Yes, it is me." I say. Hilda looks down as she wants to find a way to escape, but she notices the Team Plasma grunts at the nearby bush. And it is then my Rotom Phone rings and I get the call by one of the grunts.

"Hello, N. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I reply, "I'm fine. She hasn't hurt me one bit. Go ahead and make your escape."

After I end the call, Hilda asks, "So are you a member of Team Plasma?"

"I'm not just the member... I am the king of Team Plasma. Ghetsis asked me to work with him to save Pokémon. I wonder how many Pokémon exist in this world..."

"King?" Hilda can only gasp in shock.

"I love Ferris wheels. The circular motion... The mechanics... They're like collections of elegant formulas. Do you follow my meaning?" I ask.

"Not really, and I'm not talking about what you just said! I don't understand what you mean by 'saving Pokemon'! Or why you've trapped me up here with you for that matter!"

"Really? Well, I don't understand you either. And I've been keeping a close watch on you and your brother precisely because I seek to understand you two." I say back.

"What?" Hilda asks.

"You're the one who dreamed up the Pokemon Musical, aren't you? I don't understand that, explain it to me." That is a lie, I know about music since I am in a band with Alice and Reisa known as the Colors. "You were all dressed up and dancing, you looked happy."

I try to touch the Tepig that she has, Hilda tries to stop me, but Servine decides to slap her away.

"The Pokemon Musical... now that is a paradox. Why do people get so excited about shows like that? How can they bear to force Poekmon to imitate people? How can they exploit Pokemon? Explain this paradox to me. Why are you involved in show business anyway?"

"Fine. I'll explain, maybe you'll get it. It all started when I was quite young."

I already know the story since I heard it from her when we were little, and she says, "People perform because they enjoy it. And you feel sorry for Pokemon forced to perform against their will. That's how you see it, isn't it? That's what you're criticizing me for? But you've got it all wrong! Some Pokemon love to be on stage and in the spotlight! Am I wrong?"

"No, you're right." I say, much to her surprise. "People are different, there are those who can run fast and those who are good at drawing. It's the same with Pokemon. There are Pokemon who like to sing, Pokemon who like to dance, Pokemon who like to act on TV... I'm sure those Pokemon exist. But that's only a part of that Pokemon's personality. What if you're suppressing what every Pokemon has... by placing too much weight on their theatrical talents?"

I pick up Tepig and say, "Pokemon fight battles, that's what they do. By fighting, Pokemon grow stronger and eventually evolve, doesn't it violate the very essence of a Pokemon to choose and control its activities for your convenience? Don't you want to experience Pokemon battles as badly as you want to sing and dance? That Oshawott friend of yours... how did you feel when it evolved into a Dewott and grew stronger? Don't you want to experience the joy of winning a battle and using your special moves?"

Then I have Servine use Wrap on Tepig, Hilda yells, "Stop it! Gigi hasn't a clue as to how to fight a Pokemon battle!"

'It's not that she doesn't know how, it's that you won't let her." I say back.

"Hey! You talk about saving and liberating Pokemon, so isn't harming a Pokemon who has no desire to fight against Team Plasma's philosophy?!" Hilda demands.

"No desire to fight? Do you seriously believe that?" I ask her instead, and she gasps in shock. "If that's what you think, you aren't hearing your Pokemon's voices. And that's the worst crime of all. You're intentionally covering your eyes to block them out. Creating a Pokemon Musical isn't a crime, not listening to the voices of your Pokemon... that's a crime."

Suddenly, and to Hilda's absolute horror, Gigi unleashes an Ember attack at Servine. I smile, "That was a wonderfully executed Ember move. You dealt a great deal of damage to my Servine with your first move ever. You're so powerful, I bet you could defeat the Pokemon League Champion. I see a bright future ahead."

The Tepig smiles at me, and Hilda is now conflicted. The Ferris Wheel is about to land on the ground, Hilda decides to open the door and jumps through. But to her surprise, Gigi wants to stay by my side, and Hilda feels despair as she falls to the ground.

"I have a future that I must change. And, for that future... I'll defeat the Champion and become unbeatable, unlike any other! I'll make all Trainers free their Pokémon! Just try and stop me! Tell your brother this. If you want to be together with Pokémon, your only hope is to collect the Badges from each area and head for the Pokémon League! Try and stop me there, if you dare! If your conviction is not strong enough, you will never be able to defeat me."

I feel bad for Hilda, so that's why I have Servine stay with Hilda. This process will be treated as a trade, and I'm sure we'll meet again if she raises Servine well.

Here is a new chapter, and I finally reveal some interesting things about Team Plasma. And the last part is the same as the Manga. I actually like how Ash becomes a villain like N in this part. I hope you like this chapter.