Copyright Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events either belong to Pokémon or are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual incidents, are purely coincidental.

Please note that the characters, places, dialogue and (major) plot lines belong to GameFreak and Nintendo. This story is meant to be a variation of the handheld game Pokémon: Black 2. I do not own anything except minor deviations in the plot, and most of the dialogue.

There may also be instances of visual pictures, fanart, and fan-made videos. The credit for those belongs to their respective owners.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever, without the express written permission of the author.

Copyright © 2017 by Rosa950
(Republished © 2019, © 2020)

———————————————————————————————————————

Author's note:

This is a different and more sorrowful interpretation of what happened during the famous Ferris Wheel scene from Pokémon Black and White. I believe this is more of a... realistic response to Hilda learning that N is the leader of Plasma (unlike the romantic fandom interpretation). But that's just how I see things. You can be the judge of that shortly.

If you know me, then you know it's no secret I'm not a huge FerrisWheel shipper. So, this is not really for the Hilda x N fans! If you go on to read this, your heart will (probably) be broken. Just remember that I warned you!

———————————————————————————————————————

They hadn't been the least bit exaggerating when they coined the motto for Nimbasa City: "Lit by the Flash of Lightning!"

The glittering lights and sounds created an oppressive ambiance that threatened to drown Hilda immediately. There was so much to take in: the stadiums, the musical theater, the Battle Subway station, and the general hustle and bustle of the streets. She hadn't the immediate opportunity to check out all of these attractions for herself, though. Shortly after her arrival through the southern gate, Hilda fortuitously stumbled upon the poor daycare man, who was being threatened by some lowly Team Plasma Grunts. She remedied that situation quickly with the help of her Dewott and other Pokémon companions.

Not that she minded, of course. To say she wasn't a fan of that bizarrely dressed, ragtag group of so-called "liberation fighters" was... an understatement. The perceptive teen saw right through Plasma's backhanded manipulation and petty tactics. Their frequent practice of thievery and violence only cemented the image further. Given their all-too-frequent encounters, she felt morally bound to stop them at any cost. (What good-hearted person wouldn't do the same?) Yes, she was more than happy to help out any poor soul being pestered by them.

The daycare man was so relieved by Hilda's interference that he insisted upon generously gifting her a bicycle— completely free! She tried to refuse ("Thank you, sir, but that's really unnecessary!"), but he wouldn't take no for an answer. At the very least, the bike would cut her travel time in half and serve a great number of practical uses. That was the only reason she ultimately gave in.

Beyond that particular incident, the city itself emitted a luminous neon glow, humming with festival-like activity. While less imposing than the skyscraper, big city atmosphere of Castelia, Nimbasa still seemed a sprawling and grandiose entertainment venue. Nevertheless, it proved just as fascinating a contrast to Hilda's small hometown of Nuvema! She was excited to explore every little bit of it while she could, if only for the sake of sightseeing. And, of course, to top it all off, Hilda would challenge Elesa to earn her fourth badge!

Or at least, she wanted to do all these things right away. But the grunt she defeated earlier stupidly hinted (actually, that's too generous of a term: he downright confessed) that Plasma was hiding in the amusement park across the river. It was a tip she couldn't ignore, especially given their most recent streak of violence. She felt compelled to investigate, so she could disrupt any nefarious schemes they might be brewing for the city. Hilda shook her head in mild annoyance at the thought. She approached the park entrance, adorned by a metallic arch of colorful, flashing hexagons.

Though after I take care of Plasma, I must see if the rumors are true! A rollercoaster located inside the Gym? That sounds like so much fun!

The brunette would have preferred a leisurely stroll, but with Plasma she couldn't afford to dally. Her walk over the waterway was brisk, the grassy strip to her right lined with cedars. Hilda hated to admit it, but her newest mission put a heavy sort of weight on her heart. Last time, they had stolen the dragon skull from the museum: what could they be planning now? Still, she tried to keep her spirits up with the thought of later exploring the city's new and marvelous wonders. She scanned her sights beyond the throngs of excited children and parents carrying balloons and carnival food.

Wow, this park has everything! True, it was no Six Flags, but the venue was quite impressive for its small size. She could see giant inflatable Pokémon bounce houses, traveling jesters deftly juggling (she could only hope they weren't Trainers), numerous food and game stalls, and the famous Ferris wheel towards the back. As tempting as it was to dive into the fun without any foresight or responsibility, she had a job to do. So, Hilda kept her eyes peeled as she slowed her pace. Now she was comfortable to meander down the concrete path. After all, she needed to comb every inch of this park for Plasma. It was easy to get distracted by the colorful displays, but she couldn't afford to miss even the most trivial detail. Plasma could be anywhere.

Although, the moment Hilda sighted someone with a familiar mane of green hair, she halted in her tracks with a barely suppressed groan.

This guy again? What is he doing here? And why has he always shown up wherever Plasma is?

Hilda wasn't sure how she felt about the strangely named N. (Yes, that was seriously his name. She almost laughed right in his face when he first told her.) Her past two (and only) encounters with this teenage boy proved... mysterious, to say the least. His words were quick and yet carefully chosen, with nothing said in vain. Yet, he claimed he could talk with Pokémon! Hilda still struggled over whether he was telling the truth about that. The notion just sounded too ridiculous and impossible to be true. It seemed more likely to come out of the mouth of someone insane. But his intelligence proved that "insane" was the least accurate adjective one could use to describe him.

On the one hand, he seemed to hold a genuine concern and fondness for each and every Pokémon. His musings about the nature of Pokémon were also philosophical and fascinating. N carefully considered the truths and ideals that, in his mind, would only improve Pokémon to the point of perfection. These, without a doubt, intrigued Hilda with a curiosity like no other. It gave her a desire to know more about him. At the very least, N certainly seemed more thoughtful than the average person.

Though, on the other hand... he was downright condescending and hateful towards humans— Trainers in particular. He held the often-controversial viewpoint that battles do nothing but harm for the Pokémon involved. It was an understandable quarry— one that even Hilda questioned before she became a Trainer herself. But her experiences so far proved to her that battles were the ultimate way for a Pokémon and their Trainer to bond.

She also understood that N must pity the Pokémon which are actually abused by people. That was totally understandable. But to throw that blanket of disgust and condemnation upon all Trainers? That was a difficult stereotype for her to swallow. Indeed, after their last battle in front of the Nacrene Museum, he said something that greatly troubled her:

"Right now, my friends aren't strong enough to save all Pokémon. Maybe I can't solve the equation that will change the world. So, I need power... Power enough to make anyone agree with me."

His friends? Who were his friends? And was N seriously threatening force to get his way? He didn't seem like that type of terrible... and yet he was unfaltering in his convictions. What could he be planning? And to what ends would he go to?

As he walked away from her, N even muttered something about becoming the new hero and partnering up with Zekrom to gain his power. How could he be a "new hero" when the heroes of myth used the legendaries to create Unova ages ago? (Forget the fact that Zekrom has been hibernating for generations past, which, that in itself was merely a legend). And there was no reason for the dragon to awaken anytime soon. It's not like there were any major sources of strife plaguing the region at present.

...Except, perhaps, for the threat presented by Plasma themselves.

The most troubling thing of all was Ghetsis saying something terrifyingly familiar later in Castelia City! Thus, Hilda had far too many unsettling questions surrounding N. These mysteries only darkened the lens she used to consider him as a person.

Because of this, her perceptions of him were in conflict. Part of her wanted to like him for his noble ideals: that Pokémon care and vitality should always come first. Such a belief was compassionate and just. But his means to achieve such an end sounded way too much like Plasma for her liking. It couldn't be possible that his "friends" were Team Plasma, could it? They were a treacherous group that wanted nothing more than to callously rip Pokémon away from their loved ones! Sure, it was more than plausible that N and Plasma were completely unrelated. His values could oh-so-easily be innocent and genuine. But, again, the fact that he was found wherever Plasma lurked...

Hilda felt rather uneasy when considering everything in the bigger picture. She also just couldn't let go of the perceived similarities between N's and Ghetsis's rhetoric. If anything, their similar desires and goals only heightened her growing suspicions. Taking all of that into consideration, it was no wonder it proved difficult to label the turmoil in her stomach as a sense of excitement or unease.

Currently, N scrutinized the giant Pikachu inflatable, as if it contained some deeply held secret. But he must have seen Hilda's reluctant approach out of the corner of his eyes, for he turned around and approached her with the smallest hint of a smile. Hilda silently cursed at her misfortune.

"You're looking for Team Plasma, right?" N asked her in his lightning-fast speech. He always seemed to be in a hurry whenever he opened his mouth. Leave it to him to get straight to the point without even so much as a "hello."

"Um, yeah... How did you know?" she replied awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck uneasily. She couldn't suppress the dawning suspicion that filled her whole being. He just offered a small upward turn of his lips in response.

"I figured as much. They ran into the amusement park. Come with me."

To her surprise, N offered his hand. It caught Hilda off guard; all she could do at first was return a startled stare. What was she to think of his offer? While the idea made her somewhat uncomfortable, even she had to admit that an extra pair of eyes would be beneficial. Reluctantly, Hilda took it, trying to ignore the clamminess of his palm. N's walking pace soon proved to be just as fast as his speech. Hilda was practically being pulled along behind him.

"Hey, slow down, would ya?" she huffed, nearly tripping as she tried to keep up. "How can we look for Plasma if you just speed past everything?" N didn't answer her directly, though he did slacken his pace somewhat. Still mildly annoyed, Hilda focused on the search. She swiveled her sights past the beautiful gardens, past the neon-flashing Gym, and the families enjoying the sunny day. But by the time they reached the back of the park, it became apparent that those Plasma grunts weren't anywhere in sight.

"Well, that didn't get us much of anywhere," she sighed when they stopped in front of the Ferris wheel. Had the grunt from earlier been bluffing, or trying to get her off the trail? In any case, Hilda wasn't sure if she wanted N to let go of her or not. He hadn't said a word their entire walk, though that quickly changed.

"They're not here," he agreed, looking into her eyes with a strange sort of fondness. Should she feel flattered or disturbed? Hilda didn't have the time to decide, as N offered an unexpected proposition.

"Let's ride the Ferris wheel and see if we can spot them."

Uhhh... what? Is he crazy? ...But on second thought, that does give us an advantage of height. The birds-eye view would allow us to cover a larger area more quickly... and I can't do something like this on my own, since they require two passengers at a time.

"I guess that's not a bad idea," Hilda mused aloud after her brief consideration. "Do you want me to pay? I've earned a lot of reward money lately." She could have sworn she saw N flinch at the reference to her battles, but the movement was so subtle that she wasn't sure.

Get used to it, pal... It's what I do.

"No, allow me... It was my idea," he replied with another small smile. He continued to talk— something about mathematics and equations— as they walked into the wheelhouse, still holding hands. But, admittedly, Hilda had wasn't entirely paying attention. Perhaps that was a moment of weakness on her part. If N really was a part of Team Plasma, she should be learning as much as she could about him.

But all she could think about right now was how they must look to the public eye. Sure, the human touch with was nice and all, but the last thing she wanted was for them to be perceived as a couple. Especially if he was associated with Plasma. She'd rather die than be known as their sympathizer, let alone the girlfriend of one of their key members. Suppressing a sigh, Hilda forced herself out of her distracted thoughts and focused back in on his voice.

"—Actually, I love Ferris wheels. The circular motion... the mechanics... They're like collections of elegant formulas." A vague memory, suppressed by the fog of time, thrust itself to the surface.

"Like... Sin, Cosine, that kind of thing?" Hilda remembered these functions from school, the curves drawing themselves in her mind. A Ferris wheel in motion was often the centerpiece of these models in word problems. She gave an awkward chuckle before continuing.

"Like, who needs pi r squared when you have sinusoidals, am I right?" It was a poor attempt at some lighthearted humor, but N turned to her with a look of surprise and admiration.

"Very clever! Yes, exactly like those. I'm impressed that you know of them." His eyes practically shined in pleasure. Hilda could almost see the anime sweat drop forming beside her head.

"Uh, yeah. You can thank the education system for that one," she lamely explained, a flush rising to her cheeks. "I paid a little bit too much attention to my studies sometimes."

"You certainly seem the type." Hilda didn't know how to respond to that one.

There weren't many people lined up for the ride, surprisingly enough. After paying their fee, the two settled into the Poké Ball-shaped carriage. They sat down across from each other, allowing Hilda to (nicely) wrench her hand free from his. The slow ascent began at a steady pace. Hilda soon rose to her feet to get a better vantage point. She pressed her hands on the glass before realizing how childish that probably looked. So, she awkwardly shoved them into her pockets instead.

Unfortunately for her pride, N seemed to follow her every movement. He, too, stood up, closing the gap of space between them. Then he was peering over her shoulder so intently that she felt uncomfortable. Hilda became hyper-aware of the fact that he could put his hand on her back or shoulder if he really wanted to.

Personal bubble, personal bubble, personal bubble, she sang in her head over and over, curling her fingers into a defensive fist. Had N ever heard of the concept of personal space? Her heart clutched in her chest in a rapid rhythm—though she couldn't put her finger on why. Surely it couldn't have been a sense of attraction, could it? This was a dangerous game to be playing.

After a thoughtful look her way, N gazed out the carriage once more. He didn't look away when opened his mouth to speak. What Hilda didn't know was that what he would say would change matters forever.

"First, I should tell you... I am King of Team Plasma."

His words didn't just end the silence between them. It shattered every idle hope she held towards him, proving her worst fears to be true.

I'm sorry, what? Please tell me I misheard that.

After her initial moment of shock, Hilda's eyes immediately snapped sideways to the boy, who was still focused on the view below. How the hell could he say something so startling and make it sound so casual?!

"I'm sorry?" she repeated incredulously, her voice threateningly cold. It was all Hilda could manage to drag out. Suddenly, her search for grunts went completely forgotten. She turned to face him, now loathing the lack of space between them.

This is it. This is the moment I've been dreading, Hilda realized in terror. She should have seen this coming, and yet the shock hit her like a crack of lightning.

"Ghetsis asked me to work with him to save the Pokémon," he explained simply, ignoring— or simply unable to perceive— her response. Heck, he still didn't turn to meet her, staring out the window languidly.

"Sometimes, I wonder how many Pokémon exist in this world..."

"Wait just a minute, N. Look. At. Me," Hilda growled in an octave even lower than she was expecting. Her sudden change of tone instantly halted N from his reverie. He moved his head, his eyes reflecting curiosity. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out at first. Hilda's thoughts were tumbling among her violent storm of emotions.

I was right! Arceus, I should have known better! Why didn't I connect the dots sooner? Her confusion and outrage peaked with the carriage, but then they suddenly lurched to a swinging stop. It took everything she had to plant her feet and remain upright, determined not to stumble into this... this cowardly liar.

"We are sorry to inform our passengers that an emergency maintenance problem has been detected," came the masculine voice from the inbuilt speakers. "Please remain seated as we address this safety issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we will reimburse your fee upon your departure. The wheel will begin moving again shortly."

Oh, come on! Seriously, out of all the times for the wheel to break down. Hilda thought furiously. She reluctantly sat down on the metal ledge, with N following suit. His gaze was still locked on hers. Right now, Hilda wanted nothing more than to distance herself from this freak. If they weren't so far above the ground, she'd seriously consider breaking the glass and jumping out of the goddamn carriage just to do so. But at least this gave her the opportunity to verbally destroy him.

"And here I was thinking you may have been worth half a damn," she released with a dry hiss of disbelief, crossing her arms against her chest. Hilda really didn't know where else to start. After a brief pause and N's look of confusion, she found herself elaborating further.

"N, for all of this time, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt! 'He's just extremely compassionate,' I said. 'He probably wouldn't harm a flea,' I said. Ha!" N flinched in tandem with her fierce and staccato punctuation, his features betraying his hurt. But that didn't stop Hilda.

"Here I was, stupidly thinking you were genuine about your love towards Pokémon. Now I see I was wrong! No, instead it turns out that my gut was correct! I should have known after the damning things you said in Nacrene! And did you say their king?! What is this N, the Medieval Ages? What kind of talk is that? News flash: this is the 21st century." Her snarling words tore into him further, making his face fall in shock, and... was that disappointment? Sadness? Hilda was too angry right now to care, and she pushed on regardless.

"N, you seem smarter than the average person. Is Ghetsis your superior? If so, it baffles me that you're unable to see what he's doing! He cares nothing of Pokémon liberation! Ghetsis is just some manipulative, smooth-talking, power-hungry freak! You can't possibly dismiss all of the violence he's used to accomplish his goals, can you?" She leaned forward as her questioning became dripped in viciousness. To N's credit, he remained relatively stoic in posture: though his face told a different story.

"Should I remind you of the recent crimes Plasma is responsible for? Stealing the Dragonite skull from the museum? Threatening little children, for Arceus's sake, and taking away their Pokémon by force? Were you aware, oh Mr. High and Mighty, that your precious team robbed my friend Bianca of her Munna? You should have seen her face afterward! Her devastation over her Pokémon's wellbeing broke my heart!" Hilda thrust herself forward, her eyes alight as she confronted this pitiful excuse of a human being.

"Do all of these crimes—yes, you heard me, crimes— justify your cry for freedom, N? Do they?" Memories of her encounters with Plasma in the past fueled the fire of her anger. The smokescreen that stung her eyes during their skull heist... The little girl on Route 3 who was crying about her stolen Pokémon... No, she could never forget or forgive him for that!

"How dare you wrap all of this immorality in the name of nobility!" she spat with a venom she had never felt before. "Are you selectively blind to the suffering of others, N? Do the feelings of other people really mean that little to you? I never imagined that you, of all people, would turn a blind eye towards empathy! Or does it only matter to you when it's a Pokémon that's suffering?"

Hilda spit out that last sentence, daring him to justify his actions. Too late, she realized she hit a sensitive nerve. In any other argument, the way his face fell would have been a victory. She really must have struck him in the heart, though, because now he was trembling at her bitterness.

Too far, too far! Back down! part of her screamed. But she could only barely keep her train of righteous fury in check. The mere reminder of the suffering that Plasma was responsible for quickly moved her guilt and pity for N to the background.

And when is this damn wheel going to be fixed anyway? I've surely given at least a seven-minute speech by now. If this goes on for much longer, I'm not sure I can stop myself from snapping his neck in half!

N's quavering voice came amid her furious pause, answering her demand for an explanation. "Hilda, I-I don't understand. Why are you so upset? What I'm trying to accomplish—"

"—Is the violent thievery and immoral segregation of humans and Pokémon!" Hilda interjected viciously, fuming. She wanted to slam down her hands on something in anger; she compromised by slamming the metal wall of the carriage with the side of her fist.

"The hell I don't understand! Don't you dare try to justify such vileness to me! When it comes down to it, you are the head of a terrorist organization. Period!" She jabs an accusing finger his way, which N eyed with trepidation.

"Plasma threatens all corners of Unova: young and old, innocent and guilty, Trainers and non-Trainers alike! They want to tear humans and Pokémon apart no matter the cost! Unnecessary pain and suffering be damned! Do you realize what that means? I don't think you do! You're going to thrust countless people into unnecessary mental trauma! And you're severely mistaken if you think the majority of Pokémon that aren't abused won't be severely and permanently distressed by their kidnapping! If humans truly mean nothing to you, N, then did you at least consider that??"

A sudden, jarring lurch forward almost made her lose her balance. But at least she knew now that the wheel was moving again. And good riddance.

"And you can't possibly tell me you haven't sensed Ghetsis's nefarious motive! I know you're smarter than that, N!" Her voice became pleading here, as she desperately tried to make him understand the implications of his partnership with that horrible, horrible man.

"Just think about it for a minute, would you? The slips of the tongue when he says, "What I desire" instead of "What Team Plasma desires"? Clearly, this is nothing more than a power grab for him. If that's true, do you really think he gives a damn about freeing Pokémon for their sake? No, I can be almost certain he wouldn't! But even disregarding that...!" Now, Hilda was furiously getting into N's face, her fists curled at her side as her blue irises burned. N did not shrink back but rather held his place, bearing the full wrath of her fury. He no longer seemed confused; instead, his green eyes displayed a certain kind of sadness.

"Humans and Pokémon have evolved together throughout history, N. Our symbiotic relationship has become deeply intertwined over the ages. Beyond the realm of mental wellbeing, have you considered the ecological consequences of your dream? We depend on each other! Two sides of the same coin! Take one away, and the other will inevitably collapse! Surely, you must know this! Whether humans can ultimately survive without Pokémon is beside the point!

"I know you think you're doing this for the ultimate good. But, again, have you considered the many, many Pokémon that do love their human companions? Did you never think twice about what they might want, or how they might feel? About their personal rights and liberties as sentient beings? Or how they might be impacted by such an intense loss?"

His silence told her everything she needed to know.

"I see. If nothing else, I hope I've shown you today that your blanket, one size fits all solution is wrong! If Plasma had their way, I am certain there would be far many more Pokémon suffering in comparison! And I can't possibly accept such an outcome: not for myself, not for the ones I care about, and not for the people I don't even know! Do you understand? I won't accept the loss of the Pokémon I've grown to love and hold dear without a fight!!"

Her outburst of energy finally succumbed to pure exhaustion and grief. At this, she held up her hand in a hopeless gesture. Of all things, her eyes began to water with tears.

"How could you, N?" Hilda's voice, which had been so loud before, was now barely above a whisper. "How could you ever be a part of something like this? I would have expected so much better from someone like you... Especially from someone like you..."

And yet, the tortured look in his emerald eyes was enough to tear her heart in two.

"I... Hilda, that's not it at all... I just want..." he stuttered as their carriage finally rolled to a stop in the wheelhouse. He even tried to put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt at comfort.

"Don't touch me!!" Hilda snapped, tearing herself away from him even as her soul cried out. "Arceus, I can't believe I let you hold my hand earlier! What an insult!"

She did it again, she realized, as N closed his eyes in pain and released a shuttering breath. Was it because of she barraged him with the bitter truth? Or was it because he was wounded by her personal attack? Did he think more of her than she knew? If so, what had she just done? Her heart throbbed at the implication.

It doesn't matter, now. End this and walk away.

"Honestly, N? I don't even want to hear it," she hissed through gritted teeth, her voice heavy with bitterness and disappointment. "Your actions speak a hell of a lot louder than your words ever could."

The ride operator raised an eyebrow as she stormed out of the carriage and completely ignored his reimbursement. Hilda growled when she realized she had a puzzled audience, the line of parents and children going out the wheelhouse. Though she wanted nothing more to do with N, a sudden thought hit her like a train. She halted in her tracks and inhaled deeply, fists clenching at her sides. She may as well tell him now, in the hopes that she would never have to see him again.

Hilda turned her back to the bewildered spectators. She thought she would have a hard time locking gazes with N again. And, certainly, his suffering was apparent: within his eyes, on his face, in his body language. But otherwise, she leveled her tone with surprising ease.

"Listen good, N, because I won't say this twice. I better never see or talk to you again. Or, and I swear to Arceus right here and now, I will destroy you. In fact, you may as well kiss your precious 'kingdom' goodbye, because you've given me that much more reason to tear it down!"

Despite her cool exterior, Hilda felt her insides wither at N's expression. With a screaming heart, a shattered soul, and eyes that stung, she gave him one final comment, her voice finally breaking.

"I hope you're happy, N. I hope what you've just done here was worth it. I wanted to like you, damn it! I really, really did. I may have even had feelings for you! But now, I will never see you in the same way ever again!"

Hilda truly had enough after this. She turned on her heels, pushed past the line, and ran out of the wheelhouse as fast as she could. She didn't even dare turn back when she heard N's desperate plea. Her gasps were wrenched out of her throat as the tears finally fell onto her cheeks. She ignored the families that looked on in surprise, ignored the calls of her name from that stupid, stupid boy.

N, who initially rushed out of the wheelhouse to stop her, halted in place when he realized she was already well ahead of him. He could run after her but ultimately decided not to. She had taken the news extremely hard. There was nothing he could do without making her more hysterical. A couple of grunts in the distance, who had been waiting for his signal, began to approach him hesitantly. But N's sunken face and tired eyes accompanied a single shake of his head. That was enough for them to inconspicuously retreat into the crowd in silence.

Hilda's assault had truly wounded him, much more than he could have ever dreamed. But, amidst his deep sorrow and confusion, N knew one thing with certainty: her convictions would be more than strong enough to stand a chance against him. The last thing she had was a weak heart.

Why are you so upset about this?! You didn't even like him anyway! Hilda screamed at herself as she ran, her feet painfully slapping the concrete. She didn't dare stop until she sped under the flashing arches and down the street, all the way to the Pokémon Center. Only there did she allow herself to collapse onto a nearby bench, her lungs gasping for air.

Hilda's hands covered her face in shame and agony. Her chest heaved with deep, heavy sobs that wracked her frame. She didn't care how she looked to any bystanders. She just needed to cry. Only after what felt like a lifetime of weeping could she calm down enough to answer her question. Her mind's lonely and desolate response came with all the substance of a cold and bitter wind.

Maybe... it's just because I expected so much better from someone like him.