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The city was as bustling as it ever was. Streets filled with the townspeople going about their day and the sounds of the market could be heard not too far away. Caught in the middle of all this was Noel, sitting idly by on a bench situated in the city square. With his hands locked together, he was deep in thought over his whole dilemma. What occurred back in Dewford was just too strange for the young trainer. That man dressed all in black must be the one responsible for this whole thing. But what exactly did he do?[break][break]

Lost in thought, he didn't even take notice of someone who had taken the seat next to him. It wasn't until they spoke, that Noel realized someone had sat beside him.[break][break]

"It's freezing cold out here... Should probably get home quickly before they start worrying about me."[break][break]

Taking a glance at the stranger, his eyes couldn't believe what he saw. jayden cross. There was no doubt in his mind, this was the person who had maimed him so ruthlessly back on those resurfaced islands. A rage was building up inside him, his blood was boiling to the point that he couldn't control himself any longer.[break][break]

Rising up from his seat, he stands before the Rocket member with a furious look. Jayden simply looks up to Noel with confusion in his eyes.[break][break]

"Can I... help you?"[break][break]

Grabbing the dark-haired man by the collars of his suit and lifting him up off his feet, Noel would raise an arm to wind up a punch, his fist harshly landing a blow against the defenseless man's face, causing him to drop to the ground with a pained groan.[break][break]

"You've got some nerve to show yourself after everything you've done. Did you think you could hide in plain sight? Unlucky for you that I'm here."[break][break]

Jayden holds a hand to his cheek that was now swollen and bruised, his clothes roughed up from landing on the stone floor beneath them. He stared blankly at Noel, confusion furrowing his brow[break][break]

""What... what was that for? Who are you?"[break][break]

A ruse to feign ignorance. Noel could clearly see through his disguise, he wouldn't mistake him for anyone else; it was him.[break][break]

Just then a pair of police-men come rushing to the scene, it seemed like he had caused quite the commotion and onlookers from around the plaza began to murmur to themselves as to what was going on.[break][break]

"Good timing officers, this man is a member of the organization Rocket. We need to arrest him and bring him into the League for questioning."[break][break]

The same exact look was given to him. The same one that Navy had when he tried to explain it all, the one Jayden had on his face right now and the one that seemed to be a recurrence.[break][break]

"Just what are you going on about? You can't go around punching people for no reason. Don't you know who this is? That's Jayden Cross, head researcher of the League."[break][break]

Jayden is able to stand back up on his two legs and dust off some of the dirt in his pants and suit. Despite his neutral expression, it was clear he was frustrated and confused, wanting nothing more than to leave but feeling an obligation to explain himself.[break][break]

"Officer, I was on my way home after some grocery shopping when this man - this lunatic - just assaulted me."[break][break]

"All right buddy, you're going to have to come with us back to the station for questions of our own."[break][break]

Once again, his whole world seemed to have been flipped upside down. There was no time to waste, he had to get out of here, he couldn't risk being locked up for who knows how long. Taking a step back as if hesitating on the decision, he ultimately turns around and sprints away through the crowd. The officers give chase but soon call off their hunt after some time, deciding that this was just some random attack from someone who wasn't mentally all there.[break][break]

In a tight alleyway, Noel had managed to lose his pursuers and was out of breath. Had Jayden somehow managed to sneak his way into the League? No... that was imposssible. Just like Navy, Jayden had no recollection of him with a sincerity that couldn't be faked. In an attempt to get to the bottom of this, Noel finds his way to a local library, making sure to steer clear of any police-men that were asking citizens if they had seen him.[break][break]

As he makes his way to the building which was not too far away from him, something catches his eye. A newspaper that seemed to be left on a coffee table at a restaurant. Quickly borrowing it and scanning over the front page, his eyes widened in disbelief. There in plain sight, the date was set to be in ten years. But... that couldn't be right. How was something like this possible? Many questions formed in Noel's mind that there simply were no answers to. For the time being, he needed to know what happened in those ten years since he was gone.[break][break]

Finding his way into the library, he sits down at a table all to himself and opens up a more recent history book he had found. Spending what felt like the whole day inside there, he had read and reread each and every page of the events since the time of his disappearance. But the curious thing was... there were no major events, there was no mention of Rocket or Ultra Space. Nothing about the resurfaced islands or the investigation in those swamplands that led to the discovery of the Megalopolan spaceship. This book was filled with nothing but positive discoveries in the land and the ever growing relations between nations. It seemed like in this time, everything was all right.[break][break]

This was the world he had envisioned for all his life. A time of peace that he had been fighting so passionately for. Where all the sacrifices he had made would had been worth if this lofty goal could be realized.[break][break]

But was there a place for him in this world?[break][break]

Was he needed?

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Wandering amidst the crowd in this gigantic city, Noel had become a vagabond drifting aimlessly until something, anything occurred. A mindless zombie void of all purpose. From the outside, one could say he looked like an empty husk. Hushed murmurs were heard all around him, while he tuned everything out, many civilians spoke of a strange man, possibly homeless and steered cleared of him as much as possible. He was a wanted man now as well, after that last fiasco, he was sought after the police for assault of a civilian. But none of that mattered to him in this moment, on the inside, his heart and soul had been torn apart.[break][break]

His mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts about his current situation. This was the ideal world he wanted all along. A place full of peace and harmony, where none would be hurt or experience anything traumatic, such as everything that occurred to him during those resurfaced islands back in Dewford. So why did he feel this way? If none of those things happened here... then where was his place? Was he unneeded? Would this planet go on without him? Was that the case back in his original time? These malicious ideas gnawed at him like a bug. He had been working so hard and for so long only to find out he wouldn't be necessary.[break][break]

Suddenly, his vision begins to lower to the ground. Something had tripped him and now he laid flat on the floor, however he had neither the willpower or the strength to get back up. He simply remained their brewing in his self-hate. Bruised and dirtied, his body and clothes had become an amalgamation of filth. How long had it been since he took care of himself? But none of that mattered, tears began flowing out of his eyes, cleaning whatever mess had stained his cheek. He wanted to cry. Yell out in anger, sadness, whatever emotion he was feeling. But no sound came out, he was nothing but trash left out in the street now.[break][break]

To his surprise however, sounds of laughter could be heard up ahead. Tilting his head up, he could see what looked like a park in the middle of this city. The noise of children laughing, playing with their Pokemon, adults resting on a nearby benches with their Pokemon enjoying the day. This was the dream made reality for him.[break][break]

And... if it could happen here, then it could happen back in his original home. Just because he wasn't needed, did that mean he should stop fighting? No... it's because of that, that he needed to strive for this better tomorrow. Even if no one would acknowledge him, even if no one would ever take note of his deeds, he would still work just as hard as anyone out there to make his home safe for all. Of course... it was all so simple yet he hadn't realized it until now. He didn't want fame or recognition, not any longer. Just the strength to keep fighting whatever threat came across his friends and allies, but most importantly the whole world. And of course, he had made countless friends along the way of his journey that would help him out in this goal.[break][break]

This newfound courage is instilled into his very being, a flame lit in his heart that he didn't think was possible. He had felt so foolish now over his behavior these last few days. A disposition unbefitting of a wannabe hero. His legs find the steel needed to get himself back up. Taking one last look at the park, he envisions it but with the people he would like to spend there with together. ollie morales, Michael Navidson, Elise Calcifet, just to name a few. One day, he would make that possible.[break][break]

The area around him begins to distort, the world melting into a mess of colors and sounds all around him. Was this the end? A flash of bright white light causes him to forcefully close his eyes, holding a hand out to block out this blinding glow. Once he reopens his eyes, he's back in his room, the same as it was when he had left originally. However the strange man that had sent him on this journey was nowhere to be seen. Just as mysteriously as he first appeared, he was now gone without a trace. Still not knowing whether to consider him a friend or foe, he thanks him quietly regardless for this invaluable experience.[break][break]

With this resolve now planted in his soul, Noel looks to the future ahead, wanting to replicate that same world he visited. No matter what came across his way, he'd fight to the death for a peaceful land.

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