This updates are taking too long. Hmm.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"All better now." The nurse said, affirming that the procedure to heal the Petilil was over. The Venipede poison had been safely taken out, and the little thing was perfectly healthy again. The nurse politely handed the Grass type back to Bianca, the Petilil had apparently fallen asleep as the poison was removed from its insides. It slept peacefully in Bianca's arms… Bianca wondered what it was dreaming about. Maybe Hilbert's Pokemon, it was very fond of those two for some reason.

According to the nurse, the poison was nothing the Petilil's Immune System couldn't handle, but something else could have easily killed the Grass type while it was recovering. Just nodding a thanks on behalf of the Petilil, Bianca turned and started for the doors of the Pokemon Center. Hilbert should still be waiting outside, she looked at the Petilil and promised the sleeping thing some time with Hilbert's Pokemon.

As she walked out, she raised her head up to look at the large TV that had held Hilbert's undivided attention, it was showing something else right now, some drivel that Hilbert would have never been interested in. Bianca looked around, and started to grow concerned as Hilbert was nowhere in sight. He couldn't have… he wouldn't have just left her. Perhaps he had absentmindedly wandered off when something else caught his eye.

She started to walk, and before she could even start to truly worry, she saw him. She saw him, lying on the ground near an alley. There were people passing, none of them sparing Hilbert a second look. She felt her chest clutching as she ran over to him.

"Hilbert! Hilbert!"

The boy groaned, starting to push himself up, he looked to Bianca, who was now on her knees beside him. Bianca's eyes widened at the sight of a large bruise on Hilbert's face. He looked like he had been unconscious for just a moment.

"Hilbert, what happened?" Bianca asked, sharp pangs of fear in her voice, up till now she didn't thing Castelia City could have ended up becoming a dangerous place. She glanced around, seeing the city in a new, unfeeling light. Hilbert shook his head as he stood up and leaned against the wall.

The first thing he did was move his hands to his belt, and then a look of horror struck his face. "My… Pokeballs…" He looked down, miserably, as he remembered being attacked and that Servine and Pawniard had been stolen. "T-Team Plasma… attacked me."

"Team Plas- oh no." Bianca felt a shiver of fear suddenly run down her spine as Hilbert described what had happened. "Oh no, I… I knew a run in with Team Plasma would end like this sooner or later. Your Servine and Pawniard…" Bianca's voice broke, then died down. Her stomach was wrenching, but that was nothing compared to the expression on Hilbert's face. In all the years Bianca knew him, she had never seen him wear such a miserable expression.

A thought struck Bianca. Daring, and perhaps uncharacteristic, but she wanted to help Hilbert, somehow. She put a hand on Hilbert's shoulder. "Hilbert, I… I'll find your Pokemon. I'll get them back to you. I promise you."

Hilbert looked at her, still wearing his pathetic expression, and nodded slowly. Bianca took a deep breath, not knowing what the first thing she should do was. Perhaps she could wander the streets for Team Plasma agents, or call for Servine and Pawniard, or-

"Let's… head to the Gym." Hilbert said in an uncharacteristically halting voice. "Burgh might… have a lead." Bianca looked at Hilbert, seeing him so utterly crushed was tearing her to pieces. She had to find Servine and Pawniard.

"The Gym door is locked." Bianca sighed. Burgh was probably looking for Team Plasma right now. Then they would probably have to track Burgh down somewhere in Castelia, somewhere in the large, sprawling city of Castelia. He had to know that Hilbert had lost his Pokemon to whatever Plasma agents were lurking in Castelia.

There was the sound of feet on the road, and then someone spoke to the two. "Are you two challengers?" Hilbert and Bianca turned to two girls who were standing nearby. Hilbert didn't get a good look at them, his head still tilted down.

"We need to talk to Burgh." Hilbert mumbled, he hoped that they heard and he wouldn't have had to repeat himself.

"He's in the middle of an investigation right now and-" One girl's voice suddenly stopped. "Wait, Hilbert?"

Hilbert blinked, then looked up. It took a moment, but he recognized both of the girls who had walked up to him and Bianca. "S-Shauntal, and… Caitlin?" He remembered the author girl, and the other one, with the blown out of proportion ego, he had met both of them in Nacrene.

Shauntal just looked surprised to see Hilbert again. Then confusion swept over her. "Hilbert, did something happen? You look… devastated." She stepped forward, Hilbert leaned back in surprise at Shauntal closing the gap between them, but didn't protest.

"What happened? Is it something I can help with?"

Hilbert looked away uncomfortably. "Team Plasma… stole both of my Pokemon." His hands clenched, then unclenched. "They targeted me specifically… after I broke up some of their more recent operations."

Caitlin frowned. "Sticking your nose into Team Plasma's business? You were effectively asking for this to happen. You should leave Team Plasma for those capable of fighting the syndicate. Something I doubt you'll ever be."

Shauntal motioned for Caitlin to quiet down, then focused entirely on Hilbert. She took a deep sigh. "Caitlin and I can help you. We can find your Pokemon."

"I… I don't want you putting yourself in danger like that." Hilbert would have never expected an offer like that from Shauntal, but his first reflex was to keep her out of danger. "Please, you should just-"

"I can help." Shauntal affirmed. "Please, Hilbert. I still haven't done enough to repay you for finding my book. And it's part of my job to do things like this."

Hilbert raised an eyebrow. "Your… job? You're just an author, aren't you?"

"Ah-" Shauntal looked to the side. "I, um, my… last profession, a-anyway, I can help you, if you'll allow me."

Judging by her expression, Hilbert was certain Shauntal would stop if he adamantly refused. And that would be the sensible thing to do, he couldn't just happily have her put herself into danger, no matter how capable she might have been. Yet, that expression in her eyes made it hard to take a firm stance against her helping. "If… you really think you can help, please." He clenched his eyes shut.

"Don't worry about my safety." Shauntal quietly assured. "And I think I know exactly who to talk to." The girl pulled a Xtransceiver out and made a call. Hilbert found himself staring, he didn't think of Shauntal as the sort of girl who had connections. Then again, what did he know about Shauntal, anyway? All he knew was that she was an author. She spoke for a moment, then put the Xtransceiver away. "Burgh is at Prime Pier, and he has a few leads on where Team Plasma might be."

Hilbert looked at Bianca, and wondered if the same thoughts was running through her head, primarily the question as to why Shauntal had Burgh's number handy. Shauntal looked at Caitlin, who looked annoyed at what they had suddenly gotten involved in, but nodded her agreement, however reluctant, to go along with it.

"Let's get going, then." Hilbert said, he turned to look one way, then the other. "Which way leads to the pier?"

Caitlin narrowed her eyes in exasperation. "Must your hand be held as well, little trainer?"

Burgh pursed his lips. "You're sure about that? That's what Drayden's uncovered?"

A little girl with dark skin was across from Burgh, her name was Iris. She looked very foreign to Unova, but here she was, talking to Burgh as though they had known each other for quite some time. She nodded at Burgh. "It's what Grandpa found out. Members of Team Plasma have been going in and out of a building on Route 17. There's not a whole lot of people visiting, but they keep coming back consistently. Grandpa hasn't actually been able to investigate the building itself, though."

Burgh nodded. A safe house, perhaps, for the Pokemon they stole? Or something else? It certainly was worth investigating, and Burgh was a lot closer then Drayden was. Of course, the Striaton Gym Leaders were the closest, but they never responded to the other Gym Leaders for some reason.

Burgh was ready to move on to the next thing Iris was ready to report, but then turned to expected company. "Shauntal and Caitlin." He glanced at the two, everyone in his line of work was well aware of these two. "Along with Hilbert and Bianca. I heard about what happened to you, Hilbert."

Hilbert grunted to acknowledge Burgh. Iris poked Burgh and asked what was happening. "Team Plasma seems to be infesting Castelia. This is just the next in a series of kidnapped Pokemon."

"What?" Iris' eyes widened in shock.

"What Team Plasma does." Hilbert mumbled out. "They steal Pokemon, under the claim that they're 'saving' and 'liberating' them." He turned away. "Servine and Pawniard, I couldn't stand going on without those two." He contemplated Team Plasma's cause, and now that he had experienced it firsthand, he was starting to understand what Plasma was leaving in its wake. The bitter sense of loss and hopelessness that came when one's Pokemon were taken like this for the sake of Team Plasma's flawed logic.

"B-but, you can't just take other people's Pokemon!" Iris suddenly yelled. "Pokemon and people coexist from each other. They support and help each other, day in and day out."

Hilbert sighed. "Tell that to the people who think they know better then everyone else."

Burgh clasped Hilbert's shoulder. "We will get your Pokemon back, Hilbert. You deserve them, for all the reasons Iris just said."

Hilbert looked around, at Burgh, Iris, Shauntal and Caitlin, and finally Bianca. He was a little shocked at how many people were running to his aid when he was in trouble. He should be thanking them, but maybe after Servine and Pawniard were found. Despite the hopes he had, he still felt crushed by the theft. He turned, looking in the direction of the city. To his surprise, there was a member of Team Plasma standing right there.

"Ah-" the Grunt stepped back apprehensively as everyone turned one by one to him. "Thought that finding the guy I robbed would let me find another trainer, not an army."

Bianca stepped forward. Hilbert watched her cautiously, half-suspecting that Bianca would rush forward and try to slug the Grunt on his behalf. "Return Servine and Pawniard! I don't like seeing Hilbert so… sad."

"Ha! Like the sadness he put his Pokemon through? I'm giving them a path to true happiness."

Burgh shook his head. "Did you ever consider actually asking the Pokemon how they feel, rather then just deciding for them? They might surprise you with their answers."

"I wasn't raised to do everything my neighbors tell me to do." The Plasma Grunt stated with a smug and defiant tone. Shauntal looked at the man, and then something occurred to her.

"Did you just say that Plasma's hideout is right beside the Gym?"

The agent of Plasma grunted, his face revealed shock, and then drifted to fear. "Er, u-um, away! Retreat!" Spinning on his foot, he turned and fled.

Bianca turned to Hilbert. "We now know where they are. You'll have your reunion in just minutes!" She looked enthusiastic, and Hilbert appreciated the effort to cheer him up, but all he could do was make a weak, and fake, smirk.

"It's somewhere around the Gym." Burgh said, he looked at everyone present. "Hilbert's Pokemon are waiting, and we can nip Team Plasma's Castelia operations in the bud at the same time."

Caitlin shook her head. "Let's go with all haste, then. I want to put this absurd errand behind me with all speed." The girl started to move. Hilbert felt his hackles being raised at Caitlin's word and tone, and turned to Shauntal, the nice girl who seemed to hang out with Caitlin.

"Is she always…?"

Shauntal smiled. "She's slow to warm up to people. In a sense, she's like a novel that starts off hard to understand, but becomes hard to part with a few chapters in."

Hilbert was silent for a moment, then spoke. "I have no idea what that analogy was supposed to mean. Let's just find the hideout."

"Right across from my Gym." Burgh shook his head. Team Plasma had chosen to hide in plain sight, and he hadn't seen them. He was bitter at himself for a moment, but prepared himself for what would be inside the building. "Hilbert, this could be dangerous. If you think that-"

"No one, is going to make me sit out on saving Servine and Pawniard." Hilbert said, his tone was almost threatening. Burgh was taken aback, but wasn't entirely surprised, he might have reacted similarly if someone told him to let others handle the rescue of his Pokemon. Burgh nodded, then led everyone inside.

The first thing that Hilbert saw was a man dressed ornately, with one eye covered by an eyepiece. The man looked at the crowd that had entered into the building, scanning them carefully. Hilbert was certain that he had seen this man before… and then it hit him.

"Ghetsis." Hilbert recognized. He had first seen the man in Accumula, that was the first time he had encountered Team Plasma. Now he understood what the organization was really like, and wasn't going to bother thinking about whatever flowery speech Ghetsis might make.

For a moment, Ghetsis looked straight at Hilbert, and just like in Accumula, Hilbert felt discomforted by their eyes meeting. There was a shift in Ghetsis' face, a look that made it seem like he was dismissing Hilbert, and he turned to another.

"Gym Leader, Burgh." Ghetsis acknowledged the one who seemed to lead those who had appeared. "So you've found this place. Was it your wits that revealed our hideout, or the loose tongue of a failed peon?"

"Are you one of the Plasma Sages?" Burgh asked. "I wouldn't have thought someone called a 'sage' would stoop to stealing whatever he desired."

"You mean the Pokemon? That is for my gratification, it is for the well-being of the creatures. No soul with a hint of warmth would force them to wear the leash and feel the lash. What Team Plasma does is kindness."

"You're wrong!" Iris suddenly yelled. "Pokemon and humans have lived together for years, and we're what we are because we've always supported each other. If we're separated, both humans and Pokemon will only suffer for it."

Ghetsis turned to the dark skinned girl. "You echo another's words, child. And, as an echo, it lacks strength. Have you seen proof of what you're saying, or do you just mindlessly parrot what others have told you?"

"I…" Iris' voice trailed off, she stood firm by her argument, but didn't seem to know how to counter Ghetsis' words.

"And… the rest of you? Do you simply choose to never question what has always been? Perhaps Team Plasma's ways, though 'evil' to you, are correcting a problem that has lasted since before man began to record his history."

Caitlin closed her eyes. "Foolishness. Did they not teach the meaning of 'logic' in your school? There is nothing virtuous about how Plasma has been acting."

"Change can be painful." Ghetsis admitted. "But a price must be paid, and Pokemon must be allowed to become pure again. Only once everything Plasma has planned has come to fruition can I-" Ghetsis blinked, paused, then shook his head. He mentally chided himself for speaking too much on a certain point. "Plasma has undertaken the mission to correct one of the most fundamental flaws of this world. What could be more logical then removing the problems of the world?"

Shauntal stepped forward. "Taking Pokemon is like ripping out everything in a novel. Humans can never be what they're supposed to be if you steal their Pokemon. How can you claim anything is virtuous if it leaves such brokenness behind it?"

"Is it wrong to take away the crutch?" Ghetsis asked. "The greatest strength comes from self-reliance. Pokemon, and even humans, can only grow to their full potential by taking away what they had previously always depended on, and forcing them to stand by themselves. The merits of Plasma's actions will only take clear shape decades from now, it is not surprising that myopic people cannot see that."

"Just give Hilbert his Pokemon back!" Bianca suddenly snapped. Ghetsis turned to the girl. "I won't let my friend break like this. Team Plasma couldn't be doing what's right, if it makes people so sad." She turned to Hilbert, he had a melancholy look in his eyes, and was staring straight at Ghetsis.

Another man suddenly entered the room. Dressed in regal red, he walked up beside Ghetsis. "I had presumed that dealing with the trainer who had interfered time and again in our operations would be a simple endeavor. I had not anticipated how many would leap to his defense and aid. Nor did I think this operation would have lead to the discovery of this base.

The man, Plasma Sage Bronius, shook his head. "A woeful miscalculation. Yet I have news for you, Sage Ghetsis." He learned toward the man and whispered something into his ear. Ghetsis listened, then smiled icily.

"You may have your Pokemon back." Ghetsis said, his mood seemingly lightened by whatever Bronius had just told him. "A Servine and a Pawniard, was it? But know that taking these Pokemon back is only a delaying. Plasma's ambitions will still be carried out, and you will be deprived of them again in due time."

Bronius walked forward, revealing two Pokeballs. He handed them to Hilbert.

"Thank… you." Hilbert said slowly, as he took the Pokeballs.

"Why are you thanking him?" Iris demanded. "He's the one who ordered your Pokemon to be stolen?"

"I just…" Hilbert opened both of his Pokeballs, revealing Servine and Pawniard, no different then he remembered them. He smiled easily as the two things looked around, seemingly oblivious to everything that had happened. "I thought I had lost them, having them back feels so…" His voice trailed off, but Bianca was happy that Hilbert looked so put at ease.

"An amusing sight, but that will change." Ghetsis said slowly. "Are you all familiar with the legend of Unova's founding?"

"I am." Iris confirmed.

"Then you know the story. A hero, with a white Dragon Pokemon at his side, desired to create a world, a true world, and put an end to the warring people. The White Dragon shared its timeless knowledge with the hero, and bared fang against all opposition. In the end, the hearts of the warrior humans were united, and the nation of Unova was founded." Ghetsis smiled. "Plasma shall find this dragon, and unite the people's hearts under our King for our noble goal."

Burgh shook his head. "Castelia alone is comprised of so many different people with so many different values and beliefs. Do you really think Plasma's King can offer the one solution that will unite all of their hearts as one? There's only one thing they have in common, they love their time with Pokemon." Burgh's eyes shifted. "Let me tell you something, Ghetsis. I was in the crowd you addressed in Accumula. Your words made me stop and think, and I came to a conclusion. I made a vow to live even stronger by my Pokemon. We need each other to grow. And that is the only valid conclusion I feel a person can come to if they listen to you."

Ghetsis chuckled. "Intelligence. How… refreshing. It is such a change of pace to find people like you, Castelia Gym Leader. But I've not the time anymore. I have something I must see to."

Bronius looked troubled momentarily. "Ghetsis, what about-"

"Nevermind this hideout, it's expendable. And you informed me that the experiment has finally born fruit. A thousand upon a thousand of such bases can be set to flame, and it won't hurt us, not if we have… that. A valuable asset in our journey to find the white Dragon."

"What are you talking about?" Hilbert asked.

Ghetsis eyed Hilbert emotionlessly. "Patience, child. In time, perhaps we will seek you out. Our King… has taken an interest in you." He and Bronius started to move, no one made an effort to stop them. In time, they had left the building.

Burgh sighed. "Team Plasma… I hate to admit it, but their philosophy is going to appeal to a lot of people. I can even see a valid point hidden under all of the fanaticism. Anyway…" He turned to Hilbert. "You have your Pokemon back."

Servine and Pawniard looked on as they became the center of attention. Servine, normally thick with pride, walked forward and inclined his head toward those who had aided in the rescue.

"I suspect you're being treated to a rare honor." Hilbert chuckled as Servine bowed his head. Bianca looked almost embarrassed at the display, as did everyone else, though Caitlin shook her head and looked like she was offended that a bowed head was something she would have to earn.

"They're back, Petilil." Bianca said. For the investigation, she had put the Grass type into a Pokeball for its own safety. Now it was out, awake, and it rushed right over to Servine and Pawniard, nearly tackling Pawniard in her happiness.

Pawniard looked annoyed, but didn't shove the Grass type away, but didn't return the Petilil's somewhat odd idea of an embrace either.

Shauntal looked at the entire scene and took a piece of paper out. She jotted down a rough idea she could refine for a novel. The capable boy, when put into a bad position and rendered helpless, is saved by the girl he had always known and- She paused and looked at Hilbert and Bianca. Something compelled her to change her rough idea. She erased the sentence and started anew. The capable boy, when in danger, is aided by the bookwormy girl he had shown kindness to just a few days prior.

She put the paper away. Caitlin turned to Shauntal, and was able to tell at a glance that her friend was embarrassed about something. She decided against asking, but grew agitated at the instinctual realization that Hilbert and Bianca were the source of Shauntal's fluster.

Hilbert smirked, then heard a noise. An odd sound, like… singing? He turned to the doors, able to hear it more clearly the more he focused on it. "Does anyone else hear that?"

Bianca put a hand to her ear, then tilted slightly to the side, as if sound was caressing her. "It sounds like a song. Does everyone hear it?"

"I hear it, too." Shauntal said. Servine and Pawniard turned to the sound, and Servine suddenly left the building.

"No, Servine! I am not risking losing you again!" Hilbert started to chase his starter. Pawniard, Petilil, Bianca, and even Shauntal and Caitlin followed after them. Burgh looked on and smiled.

"I'll be waiting for the Gym Challenge." He turned to the one person still with him. "And you'd better get back to Opelucid City, Iris. You're only a few days away from being recognized as a Gym Leader yourself."

Servine stood at the pier, watching something on the edge as it made an oddly… soothing, noise. Hilbert eventually came up behind it. "Please, don't run off like that Servine. What caught your attention anyw-oh." He looked at what Servine was looking at. There was something, he thought it was a little girl at first, but then realized it was a Pokemon.

Caitlin appeared nearby, annoyed at having to chase Shauntal, and even more annoyed at how Shauntal was obviously growing fond of Hilbert and Bianca. She looked at what Hilbert saw, and her jaw dropped. "You… I doubt you peasants understand how rare that Pokemon is."

Hilbert blinked, finding it somehow hard to think as he listened to the calmingly, peaceful, but somehow melancholic song he was hearing. Slowly he took his Pokedex out and examined the data.

"Melo…etta?" He asked aloud. The Pokemon on the pier didn't notice her audience, and continued to sing. Her audience stood, focusing entirely on her song. Meloetta's eyes were closed as she sang to the ocean water, her voice producing sounds that perhaps not even the most talented human singer could match. The slow waves of the ocean seemed to provide the perfect chorus for the song Meloetta was singing.

Shauntal smiled. She could write a story based on a song, but she had to write it an idea down immediately, or risk forgetting it. She tried to move her hand, but found that it was apparently stuck on something. She looked down, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw her fingers intertwined with Hilbert's. She didn't realize this had happened, and it was clearly she that was holding his hand firmly, not the other way around.

She let go of Hilbert immediately, feeling her face starting to burn. She had to have been the one to initiate that, but couldn't recall reaching for Hilbert at all. Thoughts of stories she could write vanished from her head. She tried to look only at Meloetta, trying to use the music to chase any other thought out of her head.

Meloetta, after a time, finished her song and turned. She smiled sweetly at the audience she hadn't realized she had. She lifted up and started to float over to them, and focused her eyes on Hilbert specifically.

Meloetta cocked her head, then reached out and gently poked Hilbert's nose, chuckling. The singing Pokemon turned to the others and started to hum a wordless tune, then slowly, slowly, started to drift away toward the ocean.

"I… I've never had the honor of listening to one of Meloetta's performances." Caitlin said, not having her characteristic arrogant tone as she spoke the words. Her hands were over her chest, and her heart must have been bursting while her soul was melting. She turned to everyone else present, doubting that Hilbert and Bianca understood just how privileged they were to hear Meloetta's song. She turned to Shauntal, who seemed distracted, and her face was red for whatever reason. She grabbed Shauntal's shoulder, suggesting that they leave. To her mild surprise, Shauntal seemed suddenly compelled to leave without saying goodbye to the two peasants.

"Dudley." Ghetsis addressed the scientist. Ghetsis was resourceful, and not even an hour after his encounter with Burgh in Castelia City, he had arrived at the P2 Laboratory. "You told Bronius that all is ready?"

Dudley smiled. "Yes, of course. It is ready, requiring only the power to start its perpetual energy core. Power we already have. I would do all in my power to aid the man who allows me to conduct my research." Dudley's face suddenly soured. "Did you hear what the King said when I proposed this? He said that my research was 'vile'! That I was desecrating the Pokemon's purity! Could he not see the wonders of my Fossil Revival technique!? Why, my scientific mastery shall give this Pokemon a new life, and a new purpose. I am pleased that present company better understands what my research can offer."

Ghetsis looked at Dudley for a long second, then turned away. The scientist was eccentric, yes, but he was completely under Ghetsis' control. This was how he operated. Control one person, then a group of people, a culture, a civilization, a nation, eventually even the world could be controlled as long as one was wise, cunning, and patiently worked one's way up. And so, Ghetsis enjoyed seeing Dudley, a person under his control, begin to reveal the project he was pleased to announce was complete. A project that was unknown to the majority of Team Plasma, much of the organization would have balked at what was happening here.

"I will drain all the power in the P2 Laboratory, it shall be enough to power up the project." He started flipping switches, and adjusting valves. Ghetsis only had a superficial understanding of what Dudley was doing, and simply put his faith in the belief that Dudley knew what he was doing.

Finally, chords that were strewn all around the room started to light up as power coursed through them. The power funneled into a strange object. The object looked like a Pokemon, and yet, looked so completely… unnatural, and twisted. Ghetsis did not care, it was not supposed to look appealing, it was supposed to be useful.

"And this is the final touch." Dudley said, flipping some kind of master lever. The lights in the lab started to dim, and the power started to surge vigorously into whatever seemed to sit hunched down.

"Behold!" Dudley announced gleefully as the lights went out entirely. "Behold the fruits of Experiment: Genesect!"

The lights were out now, and all Ghetsis could hear was the grinding noise as machinery started to move with a life of its own. All Ghetsis could see… was a pair of glowing eyes.

Well, going somewhere with the plot. I've plans for Meloetta and Genesect.

Please review.