Now Alice shows me four more boxes and says, "Now these are Generation 5."

I look at them and find Reshiram, Zekrom, Black Kyurem, and White Kyurem. "That's it? No remakes?" I ask, a bit surprised.

Golly sighs, her expression turning a bit disappointed. "Sadly, Dad didn't do the remakes. But as you can see, Reshiram is for Black Version, Zekrom is for White Version, White Kyurem is for White 2, and Black Kyurem is for Black 2 version."

"Wait, why is Black and White the opposite?" I ask, confusion evident in my voice. "I mean, Zekrom should be Black, not White..."

Alice chuckles softly, understanding my bewilderment. "Yeah, it does seem a bit counterintuitive at first. The idea was to represent the contrast and balance between truth and ideals, which are the central themes of these games. Reshiram represents truth, hence it's in Black Version, while Zekrom represents ideals, placed in White Version. It's a bit of a twist to keep things interesting."

Golly nods in agreement. "It does take some getting used to, but once you start playing, the story and the themes really start to make sense and you see why they chose to do it that way."

"So I assume all of them are Unova?" I ask, knowing the pattern already.

"Yeah, but first, let's talk about Black and White versions," Alice begins, pulling out the boxes. "In these games, you get to play as either Hilbert or Hilda." She shows me their pictures, and I definitely don't recognize them.

Golly adds, "And in these games, the Unova Pokédex has a total of 156 Pokémon, all new. This is something quite different because, until you beat the Champion, you won't be able to encounter Pokémon from the previous four generations, not even Pikachu."

"Wow, that's definitely a big change," I reply, intrigued by this fresh approach. "So it's like starting completely anew with only the Unova Pokémon available at first?"

"Exactly," Alice nods. "It gives the region a unique feel and makes the new Pokémon stand out even more. Plus, it encourages players to fully explore and engage with the new creatures and their designs."

"Wow... I know that I didn't see a lot of other generation Pokémon in Unova, but that sure is something. So the version exclusives are like Solosis and Gothita, Rufflet and Vullaby?" I ask, trying to grasp the new concept.

"Yeah, exactly," Golly confirms. "But it's also surprising that Throh and Sawk aren't version exclusives, and that includes Basculin's different forms. They added a new feature known as Dark Grass and shaking grass."

"Dark grass? Shaking grass?" I repeat, confusion evident in my voice.

Alice nods, eager to explain. "Dark Grass is a new type of tall grass where you can encounter double battles in the wild. It's more challenging but also offers more experience points. Shaking grass, on the other hand, is where rare Pokémon might appear. When you see the grass shaking, it's an opportunity to find something special like Audino, which gives a lot of experience when defeated."

"I see... so I guess before we dive into the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, the main region's evil team is Team Plasma?" I ask.

"Well, it is Team Plasma," Golly explains, "but the ones you know are the ones in Black 2 and White 2, because the story there takes place two years after the events of Black and White." She pauses for a moment to let this sink in. "In Black 2 and White 2, you have different player characters to choose from, and you know what? They are based on Nate and Rosa."

"Nate and Rosa?" I ask, glancing over at Nate, who is still engrossed in playing the games with the others. "Seriously?"

Alice chuckles, nodding. "Yeah, Nate's parents are good friends with ours, so with their permission, they are added to the games. It's a fun little connection to real life."

Golly sighs, "Anyway, Team Plasma in the Black and White games mainly focuses on 'liberating' Pokémon. They believe that Pokémon are better off not being captured in Poké Balls."

"That sounds weird... but I think Ghetsis would do something like this?" I ask, trying to piece it all together.

"The truth is, in Team Plasma, there are the famous Seven Sages," Alice explains, her tone serious. "They are seven higher members of Team Plasma who cause a lot of trouble. And there is also the King of Team Plasma, Ghetsis' adopted son, N. He is so cool in the game."

"Oh, N?" I remember my journeys with him, recalling his enigmatic presence. "He did mention he used to be Team Plasma's king and they failed to control Reshiram. I remember him, though I never knew much about his past with Team Plasma."

Alice nods, "N is quite a fascinating character. Raised by Ghetsis and the Seven Sages, he was isolated from the world and led to believe that Pokémon are suffering when they're with humans. This shaped his initial goal to liberate all Pokémon. But as the story progresses, he starts to see things differently, especially after meeting the player character."

Golly adds, "His bond with Reshiram or Zekrom, depending on the version, is a big part of his development. It's one of the most memorable parts of the game, seeing him question everything he was taught and start to find his own path."

Alice continues, "But the most interesting part is that after you beat the Elite Four, instead of battling Alder, you witness N defeating Alder in front of you and becoming the new Unova Champion. This brings out the Team Plasma castle, destroying the whole league, and that's where the final battle begins."

"Wait, so I won't get to battle Alder in that game?" I ask, surprised by the twist.

"You still can, but that's in the post-game," Golly sighs. "Anyway, the Gym Leaders in Black and White versions are similar to the ones you've faced in order. That means, Cilan and his brothers in the first gym, Lenora for the second, Burgh for the third, Elesa for the fourth, Clay for the fifth, Skyla for the sixth, Brycen for the seventh, and the last one is Drayden or Iris depending on the version."

"Iris as the Gym Leader? That's not something I expected," I say, confused by this new information.

"Yeah, she is the Gym Leader in White Version, but in Black, she can tutor your Pokémon to learn Draco Meteor," Alice explains. "As for Cilan and his brothers' gym, they already have a leader picked for you depending on which starter you choose."

Golly adds, "Considering you got Oshawott from Professor Juniper, that means you will get to battle Cilan and his Pansage."

"Oh, I see. I got to battle all three of them, but I guess if I were in the game, I would only need to battle Cilan," I nod, understanding the setup.

"As for the rivals, in the Black and White versions, your rivals are either Cheren or Bianca," Alice continues.

"Cheren I remember as the Aspertia City Gym Leader, and Bianca... I think I had a hard time because she kept bumping me into the water," I sigh, recalling the many mishaps.

"Yeah, that was funny," Golly chuckles. "But they also have some character development in those games as well. Cheren starts off as someone who is very focused on becoming stronger and finding his purpose. By the time he becomes a Gym Leader in Black 2 and White 2, he's matured a lot."

"And Bianca," Alice adds, "starts as a somewhat clumsy and unsure trainer, but she grows into a confident assistant to Professor Juniper. Her journey is really touching because you see her gain confidence and find her own path."

I nod, appreciating the depth of their stories. "It's nice to see how they evolve as characters, not just as trainers. It adds a lot to the overall experience of the games."

"Now let's go into Black 2 and White 2," Alice begins, "the gym leaders have changed because some decided to retire. Cilan and his brothers retired because of the battle with the Shadow Triad in the Black and White games, Lenora retired to focus on her museum work, and Brycen retired to continue as a movie star in Pokéstar Studios." Alice sighs, "So the gym leader setup is now Cheren, Roxie, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Drayden, and Marlon."

"Strange... Roxie was my last gym leader, and now she is the second?" I ask, surprised by the change.

"Yeah, her only Pokémon are Koffing and Whirlipede. You just got the hard mode," Golly chuckles. "As for the Elite Four, it's the same with Grimsley, Shauntal, Caitlin, and Marshal. Did we ever mention that starting from Unova, you can pick the Elite Four in any order?"

"You didn't, but that is cool. I mean, having a set order for the Elite Four sounds a little unfair," I say, appreciating the flexibility.

"And in Black 2 and White 2, Iris is the Champion instead of Alder, who decided to retire after the battle with N two years ago," Alice adds.

"Well, Iris is a tough champion after all," I smile, remembering her prowess in the World Championships.

"Now for Black 2 and White 2 stories, they added a new character, Colress, into the game, but Colress is not entirely evil. He even gives you a machine that controls Pokémon and is the one who disbands Team Plasma after Ghetsis' defeat," Alice explains.

"Wait, seriously?" I ask, surprised by this twist.

"Yeah," Golly continues, "and in the games, Team Plasma's target is Kyurem. There's a great cutscene where they use Kyurem's powers to freeze the entire Opelucid City."

"Iris wouldn't like that..." I chuckle, imagining her reaction.

"Yeah, and when N shows up with either Reshiram or Zekrom, depending on the version, Ghetsis forces Kyurem to fuse with either one of them to battle you," Alice adds. "N and the white Team Plasma are on your side, and you also have a new rival, Hugh, who wants to become strong so that he can take down Team Plasma and get back his sister's Purrloin, the first Pokémon that Team Plasma stole."

"Hugh sounds like a dedicated rival," I remark, thinking about his motivation. "It's interesting how these games add so much depth to the characters and their stories."

"For the Legendary Pokémon, the Swords of Justice can be found in their respective areas in Black and White, but they now become static encounters on the routes in Black 2 and White 2 instead," Alice explains, showing a map of their locations.

"Tornadus and Thundurus are roaming Pokémon in Black and White, but you can't get them in Black 2 and White 2, which is really not good," Golly adds with a sigh. "And Landorus will only show up in the Abundant Shrine after you have both of them. However, only in Black 2 and White 2 can you obtain the Reveal Glass to change their forms."

"As for Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem," Alice continues, "they are mostly captured in the games because of the plot. As for the Mythical Pokémon, instead of giving event items to unlock them, they decided to make them event Pokémon as gifts, except for Victini." Alice sighs, reflecting on the change in distribution.

I nod, absorbing the information. "So the approach to encountering these Legendaries and Mythicals has shifted quite a bit between the games. It seems like it adds a new layer of strategy and planning for the players."

"Exactly," Golly says. "It keeps things fresh and ensures that each game has its own unique challenges and rewards. Plus, the changes in how you encounter these Pokémon help make the Unova region feel even more distinct."

"What I like in Black 2 and White 2 are the Pokéstar Studios," Alice adds, her eyes lighting up. "I mean, you get to make movies in the game."

"Really? That sounds like a fun addition," I say, intrigued by the idea.

"Yeah, it's a mini-game where you can participate in different film scenarios," Alice explains. "You get to choose the script, battle against opponents in a staged setting, and your performance determines the movie's success. It's a great way to take a break from the usual battles and explore a different aspect of the game."

Golly chimes in, "And the best part is, you can even see your movies premiere and get feedback from the in-game audience. It's a fun way to add some creativity and variety to your journey."

"That does sound interesting," I nod. "It's nice to have activities that go beyond just battling and training, adding more depth to the overall experience."

"Overall, Generation 5 brought a lot of fresh and exciting changes to the Pokémon series," Alice says, wrapping up our discussion. "With a completely new set of Pokémon in Black and White, deeper character development, and unique features like the Pokéstar Studios, it really set itself apart."

Golly nods, adding, "And with Black 2 and White 2, we got to see the Unova region from a new perspective, with new Gym Leaders, an expanded story, and the return of familiar faces in new roles. The innovations and storytelling were definitely a highlight."

"I can see why Generation 5 is so memorable," I say, reflecting on everything we've talked about. "From the challenging battles with N and Ghetsis, to the introduction of new gameplay elements and the rich lore of the Unova region, it truly was a standout generation."

Alice smiles, "And with that, we conclude our journey through Generation 5. Next up is Generation 6, which brought even more advancements and exciting changes to the Pokémon world."

Golly grins, "Can't wait to dive into that next chapter with you. Get ready for a whole new adventure!"

Here is the new chapter, and we have Generation 5 done. The next chapter will be Generation 6.