Chapter 4 - Isolation

**Chapter 4 - Isolation** is the fourth chapter of Rejuvenation. It starts the Protagonist and Venam escape Chrysalis Courtyard with the help of Marianette and in the process resolved the spectral tree crisis in East Gearen City. After restoring peace to East Gearen City, the protagonist and Aelita embark on their journey to Akuwa Town. But in Goldenleaf Town, the first major stop on their route, the town leader's desire to change her people for the better and Team Xen’s plan to return to Wispy Tower, seemingly on the hunt for something powerful left behind in the ruins, will derail those plans.

## Chapter Summary

The chapter opens with a conversation between Madelis and Nastasia. The former asks to leave Team Xen Headquarters but backs down after Nastasia does not seem to care. Geara also joins the conversation, Madelis and Geara exchange insults before Neved stops the feud. Suddenly, Nastasia is informed of the protagonist’s location – near Route 3 and en route to Goldenleaf Town. Geara jumps at the opportunity to capture them and also hints that he has unfinished business in Goldenleaf.

In tow with Aelita, the pair arrives on Route 3 and they venture through the route. However, Aelita finds the entrance to Goldenleaf Town guarded by an iron fence. The pair decide to look for help, most travelers prove to be useless until the protagonist has an unexpected reunion with Ren. He expresses surprise to see the pair here but feels apprehensive about sending the protagonist and Aelita into Goldenleaf Town, considering its unpleasant relationship with outsiders. Aelita suggests a battle between herself and the protagonist, to ease Ren’s fear about allowing them entry into Goldenleaf.

After the battle, Ren, impressed with both trainer's skill, gives them the password needed to open the gate. Aelita suggests that he come with them, but Ren denies the offer, citing that he needs to get stronger by himself.

After exiting the gate plaza, Aelita and the protagonist are introduced to the unwelcoming atmosphere of Goldenleaf. A young girl runs into the protagonist and uses them as a shield from her pursuers, who come and subsequently battle them for the girl. Aelita taunts the pursuer named Sariah. Sariah namedrops the protagonist before she runs off, seemingly recognizing the name. The rest of the hostile crowd also backs off, and the young girl thanks the pair and runs off.

In front of the Goldenleaf Gym and Theatre, the protagonist is recognized as the Local Town Hero of Gearen by a woman named Narcissa. The protagonist and Aelita explain their situation, and Narcissa invites them to her house for a proposition.

After a comment made by Aelita, Narcissa reveals that she was a formerly famous actress who traveled the world while playing different roles in performances. She also divulges that she eventually settled in Goldenleaf Town and married her husband, before quickly changing the topic.

Once taking their seats, Narcissa gives the pair a history lesson. She explains that Goldenleaf Town was a former base of operations for a group of bandits and that Aelita’s father, Keta, disbanded them. Narcissa also reveals that she knows who Keta is and that the two of them were acquainted in the past.

Narcissa retells her last meeting with Keta before she issued the order of isolation that lasts in Goldenleaf to this day and is the reason for the local's unwelcoming attitude. Keta's argument that an actress instituting an order of isolation would be counterproductive fell on deaf ears as Narcissa doubled down on the policy, citing recent events and the needs of her townspeople. She requested that Keta discourage trainers to pass through Route 3, and in exchange, she agreed to remain allies with Keta.

After hearing this, Aelita claims that an ordinance of isolation is an extreme measure, that because of it, the residents of Goldenleaf have become hateful and xenophobic. Narcissa counters by saying that the law was not put into effect without proper reason. She explains that about a decade prior, she received a threat – before being cut off by Ren. Taking advantage of Ren’s apt arrival, she tells him to bring the protagonist and Aelita to Wispy Tower while promising that she would hear out whatever Ren wanted to say to her.

In the meantime Sariah meets with Geara. Geara apparently previously fed Sariah the idea that the protagonist is a dangerous criminal and the should look out for them, and now Sariah after meeting the protagonist reports back to Geara. Geara has an idea how to "stop" the protagonist he gladly tells to Sariah.

The trio subsequently arrives at Wispy Tower – or rather, what remains of it. Ren explains that, a decade ago, Wispy Tower was the apex of Goldenleaf Tower’s development, with the radio station there being one of the biggest in the world. However, disaster struck when the tower was the target of arson by an outsider. One of the victims of the incident was Sirius, Narcissa’s husband, among 14 other people from Goldenleaf Town. Due to this event, Narcissa enacted the ordinance of isolation. However, Ren discloses his plan to the pair, he plans to use one of Narcissa’s rules against her – one which allows a disaffected resident of Goldenleaf Town to challenge the Leader of Goldenleaf and potentially take their position as leader. Ren explains that his time in Gearen, his training has all built up to this moment. However, Narcissa, who at this moment arrived after the group, reveals that she always knew of Ren’s goals. She clarifies that the threatening letter she and Sirius received was her basis for the ordinance, by enacting this law, she could cut down the probability of more terrorist attacks considerably. Narcissa expresses regret at the decision, and wants the trio to work with her to change Goldenleaf’s ways, as she can't change the town’s perspective alone, there needs to be a natural change in the resident’s minds. She recruits the protagonist, Aelita, and Ren to help her with the task, promising to show Aelita and the protagonist the way to Route 4.

While the trio attempts to rest at Goldenleaf’s Pokémon Center, Sariah and her gang enter the building and try to throw the outsiders inside the Pokémon Center out of town, but their defeat forces them to retreat. Ren, still somewhat set in his ways, gives the protagonist and Aelita 42 hours to work on Narcissa's plan, if it doesn't show results by then he will proceed with his original plan. Exhausted, the pair turn in for the night.

Not long after, the pair are awoken by a scream downstairs. Exiting the room, Aelita and the protagonist find the Pokémon Center besieged by Ghost-type Pokémon, only to find out those Pokémon were in reaility Team Xen grunts. Subsequently, after repelling them, Aelita and the protagonist meet the commander of the grunts, Geara. As Narcissa enters, he knocks out her and Aelita with his Pokémon and promptly disappears as Sariah enters the room. Mistaking the scene Sariah assumes the protagonist attacked Narcissa and Aelita but she doesn't care much about the latter, and takes them away as a criminal.

Confused, Narcissa awakens in her bed to find Ren in the room. When questioned about Aelita and the Protagonist’s whereabouts, he says that Aelita is still passed out on Narcissa’s couch, while the protagonist is nowhere to be seen, and promptly leaves as he reveals that Team Xen is storming Wispy Tower.

Meanwhile, the protagonist is surrounded by Sariah and her gang once more. After defeating her, they are saved by a Pangoro, attacking the group, this Pangoro belonging to the young girl from before – named Mosely. The protagonist quickly befriends her and together, team up to foil Team Xen’s plot in Wispy Tower.

The protagonist and Mosely take the elevator deep into the tower, while Ren confronts Geara. Together with Narcissa, the trio venture through the Tower, while Narcissa faces the unpleasant truth behind Sirius’ true intentions behind the use of Wispy Tower, and learns of his reserach regarding a place called the Den of Souls, his capture of Giratina, along with his intentions to use Hoopa and Giratina to an unknown end, and the fact that her late husband was using her all along.

After fighting their way past some Team Xen grunts, including Eli and Sharon, the trio proceed further into the laboratory, with Narcissa noting that she senses a strong power ahead of them.

They finally catch up with Ren. Ren, however, is in despair after failing to stop the powerful Xen Executive. Geara berates Narcissa, calling her foolish for failing to realize Sirius’ true intentions, and he pulls out his trump card – Giratina. The protagonist is barely able to fight of the Renegade Pokémon, but it still has some fight left in it, as Geara orders the legendary to attack again Narcissa deflects the attack right back at Giratina. Ren, having his resolve restored by Narcissa, heals the protagonist’s party and joins Mosely and Narcissa to defeat Giratina. The protagonist meanwhile is challenged by Geara himself. After being defeated, Geara is transported to another dimension by Narcissa’s Dusclops, as a timeout for him.

After the encounter, the group returns to Narcissa’s house for dinner. There, Aelita suggests that Narcissa perform to change the hearts of the townspeople. After a few days of preparation and rehearsal, the stage has been set for a new era for Goldenleaf Town. Ren, still being hesitant about the plan’s chance of success, is again reassured by Narcissa and the protagonist.

As Narcissa performs a play that chronicles the recent history of Goldenleaf Town, the protagonist ventures through her gym to the stage. However, before they can reach the exit, Ren stops them. He asks one final time to battle Narcissa first, frustrated about Narcissa seemingly recognizing the protagonist over him, he challenges them to a battle. As he is defeated, Ren laments failing to complete his father’s dying wish and walks off, while reluctantly wishing the protagonist good luck.

The protagonist arrives on the stage and has a gym battle with Narcissa, incoperated into her play. After Narcissa is defeated, she awards the protagonist the Phantasm Badge and adresses her people to urge them to not isolate themselves from the rest of the world any longer.

Meanwhile, Geara meets up with Jenner and Zetta inside of a strange dimension, where they meet Nim.

As promised, Narcissa shows Aelita and the protagonist the well-hidden entrance to Route 4 – which lies under a statue of Giratina in the center of town, while Ren seemingly goes on a journey of soul-searching. And so the protagonist and Aelita continue their journey towards Akuwa Town

## Locations of Interest

* Route 3
* Goldenleaf Town
* Wispy Path
* Wispy Tower
* Phasial Cave
* Mirage Woods

## Trivia

* In prior versions, the Player found themselves on Route 3 far earlier, with Ren forcing them to go back to Gearen and battling Marianette before proceeding into Goldenleaf Town.
* The Player may choose to let Ren battle Narcissa first, but the magic mirror that connects to the stage will not let Ren through. Ren will see this as Narcissa recognizing the protagonist but not him, upset he will battle the protagonist anyway.
* After earning the Phantasm Badge, talking to the formerly hostile residents of Goldenleaf will prompt them to apologize for their actions.