Unova Region, Nimbasa City.
At noon, many people had already gathered at the Gear Station, the departure point for the Battle Subway.
In the direction where the crowd's gaze was focused, an old man in a black coat stood before the entrance, delivering a loud speech to the masses.
"Today, I want to talk to you all about the liberation of Pokémon."
"We humans and Pokémon have lived together until now, indispensable partners to each other."
"Perhaps many people genuinely believe this, don't they?"
"But is that really the truth?"
"Could it be—that this is nothing more than our own wishful thinking?"
He held a scepter adorned with a Team Plasma emblem, his words full of confidence, resonating with power.
Anyone who knew anything about Team Plasma could immediately blurt out his name—one of the Seven Sages, the man who raised that "Sage King," N—Ghetsis!
"Have you ever wondered why trainers can command their Pokémon as they please in battles?"
"Surely anyone who has become a trainer has experienced this to some extent, right?"
"But who would boss around and give orders to their true companions?"
"Everyone, don't you find this strange?"
After Ghetsis threw out a series of questions, taking advantage of the moment everyone fell into thought, he gradually extended the topic, step by step, and finally presented his true argument—
"Pokémon are different from us; they are creatures that hide unknown possibilities."
"There is much about them that is worth our learning."
"Therefore, the best way for us humans to treat them is to—"
"Liberate the Pokémon! And thus achieve true equality between humans and Pokémon!"
"Please, everyone, think carefully. To coexist harmoniously with Pokémon, what must we do?"
"My words end here. Thank you all for your continued support of Team Plasma's cause."
With that, Ghetsis waved his hand and quickly left under the escort of other members.
All that remained were the people standing in place, lost in thought.
"—Should we really release them?"
"But my Skitty clearly likes me a lot. Is it unhappy at home?"
"That's true. Perhaps commanding Pokémon is just our wishful thinking, and the Pokémon are just bound by affection, forced to listen to us—"
"Damn it! Are we really the selfish ones?"
"..."
"..."
Among the crowd, a green-haired young man wearing a black-and-white hat and a mask over his face listened to their reflections and silently departed as well.
On the way to the amusement park, N saw many young trainers, still just children, chasing and playing with their Pokémon.
"Hahaha, Ralts, hurry up and catch me!"
"Tepig, let's race to see who's faster!"
As he passed by the Pokémon, N could always hear the voices from their hearts.
He heard Ralts's simple wish to evolve quickly, to grow sturdy legs that could keep up with its partner's pace.
He also heard Tepig's genuine joy, and how it deliberately held back after starting to run, to prevent its trainer from falling by running too fast.
He even heard the inner voices of the two young boys.
They only wanted to protect their most precious partners and grow up alongside them.
N froze for a moment, then continued on his way.
He recalled his own childhood.
It was a corner of an unnamed castle, with no windows and no lively companions.
Only the toys his adoptive father, Ghetsis, had given him when he was three, which had stayed with him as he grew.
Occasionally, a group of Pokémon that had been hurt by humans and then taken in by his adoptive father would appear. They all bore scars, to varying degrees, that could never fully heal.
To N, these Pokémon were his most important partners.
And in the words of his adoptive father, Ghetsis, most people seemed to only treat them as tools to display their power, or as pets to flaunt their status—
The scars on those Pokémon were inflicted by their previous owners.
So, for as long as he could remember, N had never really liked humans.
He hated any action that harmed Pokémon.
As he grew older and the world he came into contact with was no longer just that castle, that perpetually cold room.
One day, a black dragon named Zekrom appeared before him and asked him many questions that, in his eyes, didn't require hesitation to answer.
And so, he gained the black dragon's approval and became the "Hero of Ideals" from the fairy tales.
And when his adoptive father, Ghetsis, learned of this, he quickly brought N to Team Plasma.
N suddenly discovered that he had seemingly become the "Sage King" in others' mouths overnight, the key person who would bring liberation to Pokémon.
He muddledly accepted this responsibility and began to follow his adoptive father, observing his every word and deed.
Perhaps sooner or later, he would also be like his adoptive father, spreading his own ideas before countless humans he disliked, hoping they could change their views.
If humans could correct their mistakes, then they weren't beyond saving.
However—
As he gradually came into contact with the real human world, N's heart was the first to become lost.
Just like the two boys he had passed earlier, N couldn't imagine them ever hurting their Pokémon.
And people like them were the vast majority he had seen.
Even the people who had been standing before his adoptive father, thinking, held only positive feelings for their Pokémon.
They would even wonder if they hadn't done well enough, or if their initial thoughts were wrong, causing their Pokémon to have a bad life experience.
This was completely different from the human world he had imagined.
They weren't repenting for their own evil deeds, but rather reflecting on whether they had done enough, out of pure kindness.
What kind of beings were humans, really?
As a child born of a human and a Pokémon, N would sometimes find himself lost.
He was neither human, unable to fully understand their behavior and thoughts, yet in appearance, he was far too different from a Pokémon—
His adoptive father, Ghetsis, had said that he must never reveal his identity, or else he would inevitably be seen as a freak, neither human nor Pokémon, or even be attacked.
But would they really do that?
Were his adoptive father's words completely correct?
His mind in turmoil, N soon arrived at the amusement park in Nimbasa City, which was completely open to the public.
Whenever he had free time lately, he would ride the Ferris wheel.
Because only in the empty cabin could he completely block out the inner voices of other people and Pokémon, allowing him to think quietly in solitude.
As the Ferris wheel ascended, the panoramic view of Nimbasa City appeared before him.
The human world was far more developed than N had imagined; at the very least, it was much more interesting than that perpetually cold castle.
If Pokémon were to live in such a world as well, wouldn't it actually be a good thing?
For the first time, N had a thought that was completely different from his adoptive father's. Two almost entirely contradictory concepts began to tangle in his mind.
And just as he felt a splitting headache, unable to find an answer no matter what—a strange aura, seemingly psychic, suddenly appeared before him.
"Hello there, N."
When N looked up, he discovered a strange young man had somehow appeared inside the Ferris wheel cabin.
"...?"
He didn't know how the other person had appeared before him.
At least before he started thinking, he was sure he was the only one in the cabin.
And the other person's opening line that followed was even more astonishing to N.
"I am Aiden."
"I am the 'Hero of Truth,' the 'Rainbow Hero,' a friend to the Dragons of Sinnoh, and the acting agent of the Creator God, Arceus, in this world."
"I heard you seem to be troubled by something lately."
"So, could we talk for a little while?"
The Hero of Truth?
N couldn't quite understand the other titles.
Although the name of the Creator God, Arceus, was impressive enough, he didn't really have a tangible sense of it.
As the hero chosen by the Black Dragon, he only knew that the other person was his opposite, the hero chosen by the other White Dragon, Reshiram.
Theoretically, their ideals must have an irreconcilable conflict.
Yet the other person showed no malice whatsoever, not even putting Zekrom in his eyes.
Instead, it was the Dark Stone in his pocket, transformed from Zekrom, that had a very shocked reaction after the young man named Aiden announced his identity.
For N, who could feel inner voices, this was already very clear.
The other person's background was perhaps far beyond what Zekrom could handle.
Honestly, after realizing this, N's heartbeat immediately quickened considerably.
So, it was a good thing the other person wasn't malicious.
Otherwise, it would be a big problem.
Thinking this, N breathed a sigh of relief. When he looked at Aiden again, his expression had relaxed a lot.
But—troubled?
How did he know?
N looked at Aiden and met his clear, black eyes.
His telepathic ability, which had been ineffective while he was alone, activated again.
A thread of silk appeared before his eyes, intertwined with various colors, and finally gathered into a vibrant, colorful black.
As it rushed into his line of sight, the inner voices of countless humans and Pokémon followed.
Several figures appeared in N's mind.
A Sylveon that was incredibly timid yet tried its best to puff out its chest for the person behind it;
A Lucario that firmly believed in its trainer's guidance and had sweated all the way;
A Miraidon that had also experienced confusion and helplessness, but finally took a crucial step with its trainer's encouragement;
An Ogerpon that had been misunderstood for over a century and finally had its fated encounter;
A Salamence that had a happy and complete childhood, and thus grew up to be carefree and fearless;
An Indeedee that had wandered through human society and finally found its own "home";
And many other, even more outrageous Pokémon, including many legendary beings.
The black Rayquaza that watched over a region, Mew the origin of Pokémon, the Dragons of Time and Space, Giratina, a ghost known as a Paradox Pokémon, the Heroes of Sword and Shield, the White Dragon Reshiram—
Originally, N couldn't even name them, but from Aiden's memories, he glimpsed a fraction of their immense power.
What on earth had this man experienced to encounter so many rare and grand events?
After feeling the bonds that wrapped around the other person, N became even more confused.
However—
Besides them, there was one more special existence.
N's gaze fell upon the pink, humanoid Pokémon that had appeared with Aiden and was not looking at him.
It was a being known as Mewtwo.
N could feel that it was somewhat similar to him on the inside.
He was a child born of a human and a Pokémon; Mewtwo was also created from the genes of a human and Mew.
He was confused by the duality of human nature, and Mewtwo had once, like him, hated humans immensely for certain reasons.
—or rather, its views hadn't changed much even now, it's just that that malice didn't include Aiden.
So, was this why Aiden had appeared before him?
Did he already know his identity, and that's why he deliberately appeared with "Mewtwo"?
N seemed to understand Aiden's intention and couldn't help but think—if it was him, could he give himself a convincing answer?
"I don't know—"
After a moment of silence, N suddenly lowered his head, his voice full of confusion.
"Between humans and Pokémon, what is the absolutely correct way?"
"Ghetsis said that humans are an existence that brings pain to Pokémon, so we need to liberate them and let them return to nature."
"But—"
"But the humans you've observed don't seem to be the same as the ones your adoptive father described?"
Seeing N suddenly fall silent, Aiden took the initiative to finish his sentence, shaking his head helplessly.
"..."
N didn't speak, but sometimes silence is a form of consent.
"Have you already realized?"
Aiden continued to speak.
"The world Ghetsis speaks of is certainly appealing, but the current way humans and Pokémon coexist seems pretty good too."
"Pokémon aren't being forced to stay in the human world; they've established very deep bonds with humans and are unwilling to leave their trainers."
"However, if we follow Team Plasma's plan, what should these partners, who see each other as family, do?"
"Must they be separated to ensure that Pokémon are free?"
Just like N's questions, Aiden also posed a series of rhetorical questions, leaving the answer for N to say himself.
"..."
N's expression flickered with pain, but it quickly became firm again.
"Mr. Aiden, you're right."
"Perhaps my adoptive father is a little extreme, but Team Plasma's idea is not wrong."
"Even without the restraint of Poké Balls, Pokémon can freely choose their own answers."
"Whether to stay by humans' sides or return to nature to form new groups, it all depends on their choice."
"And our Team Plasma's goal is to work towards maintaining 'th—'"
Just as N's emotions were running high and he felt he had found his answer, Aiden suddenly raised his hand, interrupting his speech.
"Wait, is that really what Team Plasma believes?"
Aiden sighed, thinking that a worldview built from childhood really wasn't that easy to change.
Fortunately, not everyone in Team Plasma was an idealist like N.
Aiden pointed downwards. N and Mewtwo immediately looked over.
"This is—"
In an inconspicuous corner of the amusement park, the little boy he had seen earlier with a Tepig as his starter Pokémon was crying.
Not far away, several Team Plasma members, who had taken off their uniforms but whom N still recognized, were holding the struggling Tepig and quickly leaving.
"No, stop!"
N was instantly agitated and subconsciously slapped the Ferris wheel door.
However, before the Ferris wheel had descended, the locked door naturally wouldn't open.
"Don't worry, just leave this to Mewtwo."
Aiden glanced at Mewtwo, who immediately understood and vanished in an instant.
Its figure soon reappeared below. The few Team Plasma members were simultaneously sent flying, leaving only the Tepig, held aloft by psychic power, suddenly feeling bewildered.
"Team Plasma is not as great as you think. Its very existence is a long-premeditated conspiracy."
As N's expression grew complicated, Aiden struck while the iron was hot, once again employing his "talk therapy" technique.
"Of course, I understand it's impossible to make you change your view of Team Plasma in a short time."
"But incidents like today are definitely not the first. You should be mentally prepared for that, and also—"
"it's best to take off your rose-tinted glasses regarding Ghetsis and Team Plasma and rethink whether their actions are truly for the good of Pokémon, as they claim."
After speaking, Aiden gave N, who was still standing there in a daze, a firm pat on the shoulder.
Honestly, he had a pretty good impression of N.
The other person was clearly an honest kid, just raised the wrong way.
So Aiden wouldn't forcefully change his views but would let N learn more about Team Plasma and his adoptive father, Ghetsis, on his own.
Team Plasma's original intention might have been good, but after Ghetsis became one of the Seven Sages and started his machinations, everything began to go sour.
On the contrary, due to Ghetsis's deliberate screening, the majority of the members who joined later actually had a very clear goal—
under the pretext of Team Plasma's "everything for Pokémon," to brazenly snatch away the precious families that other trainers treasured and force them to fight for themselves.
It was incredibly ironic. People who so completely violated Team Plasma's ideals were now, in fact, the majority.
Thinking of this, Aiden suddenly had a deeper understanding of the idea he'd heard repeatedly, that "the Hero of Ideals always goes astray."
These idealists were just too easily deceived.
Being too idealistic about human nature, even if the outcome is good, will inevitably destroy everything they've built.
N didn't speak again. His expression now gave Aiden the feeling that he was on the verge of shattering from confusion.
The belief he had been instilled with since childhood was only taken seriously by himself and a few others. To think that he had been raised as a pawn from the very beginning—
"..."
Anyone would need time to be lost in confusion before accepting such a huge reality shock.
So Aiden didn't stimulate him further but just patted his shoulder again.
The Ferris wheel slowly came to a stop. After arriving at the station, the door opened automatically. Aiden walked out and met up with Mewtwo, who was waiting below.
The figures of the boy and his Pokémon quickly disappeared, leaving only N, staring blankly in the direction they had left, standing in the Ferris wheel cabin.
Was everything I had done before wrong?
Could it be that my adoptive father—Ghetsis—is hiding something he would never, ever want me to know?
N had never been so lost in his life, so much so that he even subconsciously ignored the successive voices transmitted from Zekrom.
However, one thing was crystal clear—no matter how cruel the truth, he would no longer be kept in the dark.
He had to get the answer with his own eyes
------------------------------------------------------
30+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)