Upon reaching the Opelucid city, Touya could notice a large number of lights that gave a modern and futuristic touch to the entire city, as well as several constructions that accompanied this style.
Touya kept walking a bit while he looked around curiously until he found himself with a well-known fire-red hair.
"Hello Mirto!" Touya said greeting Mirto and making him aware of his presence.
"Ohh young Touya, you seem much more relaxed than last time, and tell me what do you think? It's amazing Opelucid City isn't it?" Mirto said looking around him with his common excited and energetic tone.
"The future is now, old man" Touya said making Mirto look at him with blank eyes in shock.
"I'm sorry, I had to say it" Touya said scratching the back of his neck a little embarrassed.
"Ahhhh, no young Touya you're right I'm getting old" Mirto said admitting his old age as he dramatically clutched his chest.
Touya for his part could only smile nervously and wait for Mirto to go through his age crisis.
"Have you already talked to the gym leader Mirto?" Touya asked Mirto trying to put the issue aside.
"N-no" Mirto said a little nervous while he was sweating a lot.
"Why?" Touya asked confused.
"Let's just say, I'm a little scared to talk to Drayden, after all he's been a gym leader for a long time" Mirto said trying to avoid the subject as he looked away.
Touya only looked at him suspiciously until the latter said.
"Young Touya, there is something I want you to see before anything else" Mirto said with a serious and somewhat annoyed tone.
Touya was a bit surprised due to the sudden change of environment, but he just nodded and then followed Mirto towards the town square.
Upon arrival, Touya frowned a little as he noticed Ghechis along with the recruits from the team plasma preparing to give one of his speeches.
"Why don't you just kick him and send him to his lair?" Touya said with annoyance when noticing Ghechis's haughty look.
"Trust me, I was about to get him out of here too, but it is not good to fall in his tricks, that could cause more harm than good, after all he is a very good manipulator" said Mirto looking in the direction of Ghechis also with annoyance.
Touya looked at Mirto and quickly understood his point of view and Ghechis's trap and then looked at the people around.
Curiously, Touya paused for a moment when he noticed a very remarkable young woman with purple hair next to a somewhat old man with a very cool beard at the sight of Touya.
'So she's here too, I guess that man is the gym leader or some kind of boss' Touya thought noticing that the old man's clothes were very refined like that of a mayor.
Suddenly Ghechis started with his speech.
"Dear citizens, the decisive moment of our cause has arrived, join us and help us to free the pokemon and support our hero N together with his legendary dragon-type pokemon of legend!, So we can cement a world made of ideals!" Ghechis said with a passionate and determined tone making people be attracted by his words.
"Hero! / Legend? / Dragon?!" said several people each with different thoughts.
"That's right! The hero N is even capable of talking to the pokemon so this is a request from them, we should free them!" Ghechis said with a firm and determined tone making people hesitate for a moment.
"We the team plasma long for that new world!, where humans and pokemon are happy even if we have to separate from our friends" Ghechis said with a determined tone but at the same time sad and down.
"Tch, it's no wonder he has so many followers" Mirto said clicking his tongue in annoyance and helplessness as he crossed his arms.
"With all that said, I am Ghechis from the team plasma, it was a pleasure citizens" said Ghechis making a small bow with a friendly smile and then leaving with his recruits.
"Is it true that we harm our pokemon?" said a man in the crowd a little worried.
"It has to be, he said that his leader can talk to them" said a woman also somewhat worried and sad.
"Maybe it's true, we should release them" said an man with a thoughtful tone.
"B-but my pokemon is family, I can't just release him and never see him again" said a young woman with sadness and indecision.
"Stop stop, I want you to think of something first, if the pokemon wanted to get away from us they would simply leave right? After all, pokeballs do not create bonds" said the old man next to Iris with a serious and imposing but also friendly tone.
"Grandpa Drayden is right! If they wanted to leave, they would do it, after all our ties with them are real" Iris said in shock and somewhat annoyed when noticing the indecision of the people.
"Mayor Drayden has always been there for us and made the right decisions in this city, I see no problem in trusting him" said a somewhat older lady confidently.
"Still, this is an issue that needs to be thought about further" said a young man from the crowd, still somewhat undecided.
After this, the crowd spread out and Mirto and Touya approached Iris and Drayden.
"Nice to see you again Drayden" Mirto said with a slightly nervous smile.
"Mirto, it's been a long time since I saw you, tell me, are you still holding on to the past?" Drayden said with a questioning look making Mirto a little more nervous.
"This is the champion who ran away from the league to roam the world because he couldn't face his past like a coward right?" Iris said to Drayden making the latter look at her with his eyes.
"You could have been a little less direct Iris" Drayden said to Iris which she just shrugged carelessly.
"I-I would like to know how to summon the legendary dragon of the legend" Mirto said a little hurt by the strong words of both.
"You mean Reshiram and Zekrom? Why do you want to know?" Iris asked Mirto suspiciously.
"Don't tell me it's because of that pusillanimous's speech, as idiot as ever, how can you even think that's real" Drayden said with disappointment making Mirto feel more hurt.
"But it is! This young man here is a witness" Mirto said trying to justify himself as he took Touya by the shoulders and placed him in front of him.
Touya for his part only made the peace symbol with the most indifferent face possible.
"Ohh, you are Bel's friend! The guy with the scary psycho look" Iris said pointing at Touya and making him feel hurt as well.
"Tell me young man, how do I know that what you say is true?" Drayden said with a serious look towards Touya.
"Well, I have this" Touya said a little nervous taking the light stone out of his bag and making it shine in front of everyone.
Interestingly, the stone was now brighter and the light from it seemed much more uniform.
Seeing the stone along with the glow of it, Drayden and Iris widened their eyes in shock and fell into the seriousness of the matter.
"So it was all true, I don't know, maybe they want to make the legendary pokemon fight for their convictions and see who is right this time" Drayden said thoughtfully as he scratched his beard.
"But Grandpa Drayden you said they had already become friends!" Iris said looking at Drayden in shock.
"Those were the previous incarnations of him, after all this battle will probably never end" Drayden said looking at Touya seriously.
"Pokemon battles helps to improve the understanding between a pokemon and his trainer is a very important part of their relationship!" Mirto said, taking back his emotion and security.
"Yes yes, we all know that, could you say something new Mirto" said Drayden still disappointed with Mirto's behavior.
"Still I'll go- no, I'll go back to the pokémon league and stop both N and his recruits, and show him that the world is fine the way it is, with pokémon and people living together!" Mirto said with assurance and determination.
"I'll be waiting for you in the pokemon league Touya, get the badge and go to there, but be careful in this city is the strongest leader of all" said Mirto looking at Touya seriously and with a warning tone.
Touya nodded seriously and after this Mirto threw a pokeball from which Braviary came out and then flew away.
"It's good to know that there is still something left of that enthusiastic and determined champion" Drayden said, recalling the youth of that admirable champion.
"Do you think he'll be okay? He seemed a little worried" Iris said a little worried about the champion.
"He'll be fine, after all he's the strongest in all of Unova" Drayden said without caring too much for Mirto.
"You! Your name is Touya right? Come to my home, there I will tell you everything about the legend as requested by the champion, I have things to do before, meanwhile Iris will take you there" Drayden said seriously pointing at Touya and causing him to get a little upset and then go the other way.
Iris approached Touya and said.
"I'll be your guide in Opelucid City, try not to scare anyone with that killer look of yours" Iris said with a warning tone making Touya feel a bit down again.
And after this, Touya followed Iris through Opelucid city.