"Thanks Clay!" Hilda chirped, giving the Driftveil City gym leader a warm smile. She pat Clay's Krokorok on the head, "And thank you too, Krokorok!"

Krokorok crossed its arms and nodded, a satisfied look on its face.

"Anytime, youngin'." Clay said, nodding along with Krokorok, "Say hey to Skyla 'fer me!" He yelled, walking away with his Pokémon.

Hilda waved, "You got it!" The Pokémon on Hilda's shoulder waved along with her trainer.

She turned to the entrance of the cave.

"What do you think, Cinccino?" Hilda asked her newly evolved Pokémon, "Are we ready?"

Cinccino nodded fiercely.

Hilda nodded with determination and walked inside the cave. Upon entering, blue electricity surged underneath her feet. She looked around in awe at the bright blue crystals floating in the air.

"Woah..." Hilda breathed as Cinccino moved to settle into her trainer's embrace.

After taking a few steps, two tall, skinny figures appeared on each side of Hilda, grabbing her arms.

"Come." They said in unison. They dragged Hilda deeper into the cave, throwing her to the ground.

"Ow..." Hilda groaned, landing face first. Cinccino struggled to get out from underneath Hilda.

"Sorry Cinccino..." Hilda grumbled, getting up and sitting on her knees, "You okay?"

Cinccino frantically cleaned its coat, brushing off the dirt that clung to her white ribbons. She cried a little bit as she did so. Anger surged through Hilda's veins.

"Hey! What's the big-"

Hilda stopped when she saw a familiar figure offering her his hand.

"Idea?..." She whispered.

"My apologies, Hilda." The figure said, "That is not how I wanted them to handle things."

Hilda took the boy's hand and he pulled her up off the ground. Cinccino greeted the familiar figure by jumping into his arms and snuggling into him.

"My...you've certainly gotten stronger." The boy commented, stroking the Pokémon's now clean fur.

"Lord N." The two tall figures said in unison, grabbing N's attention.

"Uh...Yes. Thank you." N said awkwardly.

The figures nodded and disappeared into thin air.

"Sorry about them," N apologized.

"Who were they?" Hilda asked, looking around, wondering how they disappeared so efficiently.

"They are the shadow triad," N explained, "Ghetsis hired them. I sent them to gain information."

"Information?" Hilda wondered, "On what?"

"On you." N said, smiling down at the scarf Pokémon in his arms, who was dozing off, "Also on your friends."

Hilda crossed her arms, "My friends?"

N nodded, "Yes. You have been chosen you know."

Hilda blinked, "Chosen?"

"Does this surprise you?"

"Uh...Yeah?"

N chuckled, "I suppose such news would..."

"Chosen for what?" Hilda asked.

N seemed a bit all over the place. What did he need with information on her and her friends?

"Cheren is pursuing the ideal of strength," N said, switching the subject once more, "Poor, poor, Bianca has faced the sad truth that not everyone can become stronger. And you are not swayed either way-more of a neutral presence."

"That's not always such a good thing..." Hilda muttered.

N raised an eyebrow, "But it would seem it is. On another note, Team Plasma grunts await you further on in this cave. Ghetsis would like to see what kind of trainer you are."

Hilda scoffed, "Oh I can handle a few grunts." She said with confidence.

A small smile formed on N's lips, "Oh? Show me, then."

"I will."

N nodded and handed Cinccino back to her rightful trainer. The Pokémon squeaked in disappointment, mostly from being woken from her nap.

N waved a silent goodbye and disappeared deep into the cave.

"Let's go kick some Plasma butt!" Hilda exclaimed with confidence.

Cinccino gave a murky squeak of agreement, returning to her nap in Hilda's arms.