Okay, so it seems if I want to see their threats I have to go look for the fight on my own.

Interacting with the machines around Kyurem makes it say Haahra… so either it’s telling me I’m stupid or I’m hurting it somehow.

Right, so, continuing on…

Colress! Oh thank god you’re here, Team Plasma is doing stuff and they suck at it! Please be a decent villain.

Colress: Welcome! I was asked by an acquaintance to help with his research. What I desire is to bring out the entirety of Pokemon potential! If I can accomplish that, I don’t care what it takes!

Ah, right, last game pokemon potential was one of the various incoherent motivations Plasma claimed.

If it means this strength must be brought out by the interactions between Pokemon and Trainers, then so be it! If it means you have to use a merciless approach, like Team Plasma’s, and force out all of the Pokemon’s power, then so be it!

Yay science!

And yes, if the entire world is destroyed as a result, then so be it…

That seems like a problem. How are you supposed to learn anything if it’s all gone?

That aside! The reason I have been traveling all over Unova and battling many Pokemon Trainers is because I was testing the viability of this approach to bringing out the full strength of Pokemon. In that respect, you’ve done an amazing job.

Ah, Colress. I like you and the part where you actually talk to me. If only there’d be more of you in this game.

Well now! Tell me if you have the answer I desire or not!

Wait wait what answer are we talking about here?

If you’re ready, come at me!

Oh, that. Also dammit game have people just attack me, would you?

It looks like you’re ready, then! OK! Let us begin!

L54 magneton
L54 magnezone.
L54 metang
L56 klinklang
L54 beheeyem

A rather unimpressive lineup, honestly. The typing is good, my team really doesn’t have much that can deal with steel types, but almost all of my pokemon are higher level at this point.

Colress: So strong! You’re a very strong Trainer indeed! So let me ask you this! Are you thinking of reaching even higher heights by understanding each other as Pokemon and Trainer?

No, I’m obviously awesome already.

I see… Is that answer my truth? Even if that’s your answer, don’t give up!

As you see, the question sections are an active detriment to the script, because the character then has to mumble something that could work for either yes or no.

The reason you’re so strong is that you treat your Pokemon with respect and love!

I really don’t see how beating you proves I love my pokemon. You are a terrible scientist, Colress.

Excuse me for repeating myself, but if it will make Pokemon stronger, I don’t care what it takes! If interacting with Pokemon can increase their powers only to a certain point, then their full strength must be brought out using a scientific approach. Even one without a conscience.

But how do you know that it only works to a certain point? And if it did work then that would be a scientific approach!

But you have shown me the potential of your approach. To me, whether Team Plasma wins or whether you win will decide how the relationship between people and Pokemon should be!

So, where will this be settled? Step on the warp panel on the other side of the room where Kyurem is being held. Good luck in your battle!

Leaving for there, there’s a Team Plasma grunt who stops me.

What?! You beat Colress?! Waaah! I pretended to be strong, but I don’t have any Pokemon!

And they run, letting me by.

Okay, now I’m in some fancy office covered in screens, and there’s a greenhair here. Ghetsis?

You look bad, Ghetsis.

???: That blasted Colress! The fool is far too committed to pure science.

Shame he’s so terrible at it.

This is how he replays me for making him the boss of Team Plasma? How dare he put his personal intellectual curiosity before our ultimate mission of conquering Unova! How fortunate for you! Few get to be the sole audience member for one of my speeches.

God yes, it’s awesome. Thank you.

Team Plasma will use its knowledge and technology to take Kyurem’s true power to its absolute limit and freeze the Unova region. The terrified people and Pokemon will bow at Team Plasma’s…no…at MY feet!

You know what’s interesting here? This is I think the first time in the game anyone’s actually acted like the opinions of Pokemon matter. Ghetsis wants to intimidate the Pokemon themselves. He’s one of a tiny number of characters to actually act like they have their own thoughts.

He continues to come closer.

Kyurem is an empty being. The remnants of a certain Pokemon when it split into Reshiram and Zekrom… My desire is absolute rule of Unova!

You’re kind of all over the place here.

That’s right! Kyurem will be the vessel into which my desires will be poured!

And suddenly shadow triad guy appears! Please god don’t let Failry be behind him.

Shadow Triad: Lord Ghetsis. Kyurem has been transferred!

Dammit, so I’m not getting it yet? There’s somewhere else I need to find?

Ghetsis: It’s finally here! The wonderful era in which I am the absolute ruler of Unova has finally arrived! I’ll let you take care of this!

He runs off.

Then FUCKING FAILRY appears.

Gary: Wait… You’re one of the Shadow Triad, right? Tell me about the Purrloin that was stolen in Aspertia.

Like there was just one single purrloin stolen there.

Shadow Triad: Very well… This might be it.

Yes! A pokemon appearing outside its pokeball! It’s a liepard.

Grrooowwwl!

Failry gets the exclamation mark of surprise over his head.

Shadow Triad: I stole this Pokemon five years ago in Aspertia.

You’re a super ninja, can’t you steal a better pokemon?

So it seems likely that it is the Pokemon you’re talking about. But now, it only listens to my commands.

You really make a description of all pokemon that belong to trainers sound so personally sinister.

Such is the fate of Pokemon that are trapped in Poke Balls!

Uh…so, are we going to get a power of love message or something now?

Gary: Wh-what? Don’t mess with me… That’s someone else’s Pokemon!

Because that’s totally what the problem with what he said is.

Shadow Triad: Ah… I feel sorry for Pokemon. They’re ruled by Poke Balls and the whims of their Trainers… Lord Ghetsis spoke of Pokemon liberation two years ago simply for his own ambitions, but… If his plans had succeeded, many Pokemon would have been saved. This Liepard–well, you knew it as a Purrloin–if it had been released, it might have returned to you.

Really? I thought he was going to keep all pokemon for himself.

Well then…

He turns to me, once again the afterthought.

You there! I won’t let you interfere with Lord Ghetsis’ plans!

And…then we start to fight. Failry I guess just stands around like an idiot.

Some pawniard, L55 absol, no liepard. He says something like It doesn’t bother me a bit if stolen Pokemon cry or beg. when I win, despite just saying some stuff about feeling bad for them. I don’t even know what the game’s trying to do.

Now the other two are here.

Shadow Triad: You’re not done yet…

…

And again, nothing seems to be happening. I guess this is so I can retreat to heal my pokemon if I need to.

Failry, what are you doing? I assume the answer will irritate me.

Gary: Sorry… This situation is messing with my head… I just don’t know what to do…

You’re remarkably easy to mess with.

I finally found my sister’s Pokemon, but now it’s glaring at me… Why?!

So it does remember you then!

Okay, but actually this is pretty good. He’s finally considering the pokemon’s own feelings on the matter.

Okay ninja guys, let’s do this.

Shadow Triad: We swore to be loyal to Lord Ghetsis since he saved us!

He what the when how?

Anyway, similar team but this one has a banette.

Shadow Triad: Listen well! The only thing we want is the world Lord Ghetsis desires!

Really because the other guy was saying some wishywashy stuff about how it’d be better for pokemon, maybe.

Next up: Shadow Triad: I have no problem with you, but this is for Lord Ghetsis!

This one has an accelgor.

Shadow Triad: Even if I lose, Lord Ghetsis simply has to win…

Then the screen moves back to the first one with the liepard.

Shadow Triad: No matter… The only thing you can do is watch Lord Ghetsis use Kyurem to freeze Unova solid. That’s all…

Then, of course, he turns to Failry, because the game doesn’t care about me when it can make two NPCs talk to each other.

You… I’ll return this Pokemon to you.

And the moral of this is…?

Considering what Lord Ghetsis is about to do, I have no further need of it.

Then how about all of you give me your pokemon? I could use that to fill out more of my pokedex!

They ninjavanish, leaving the liepard.

Gary: …
…
Hey…
Farla…
If we let Team Plasma do whatever they want…
There’ll be more said Pokemon like Purrloin and Kyurem…

Do we have any reason to believe the liepard is sad? Or that Kyurem’s sadness has anything to do with Team Plasma?

Anyway, he just stands there as a broken shell of a human being, which I find satisfying.