► application post :: sumabura gakuen
If N is accepted, all entries related to Smash Academy will be here, but listed under the + roleplay: sumabura gakuen tag, as well as the !ic tag. All other entries will be for Road to Viridian and OOC information, which can be located under the + roleplay: road to viridian tag. Thank you!
Out-of-Character Information
Name: Essay
Are you over 15?: You guys know this!
LJ username: skorupion
Time Zone: -5 GMT
AIM: horribee
MSN: lunarwingit@hotmail.com
E-mail: youressayisdue@gmail.com
Tegaki: Happy Go Yogurt
Anything Else?: yas
In-Character Information
Name: N Harmonia
Game/Series: Pokemon Black / White
Canon Point: Post-game
Age & Grade Level: 21, Senior
Personality:
Idealistic would likely be the best term to describe N in a nutshell. He's a dreamer, and when he dreams, he definitely takes it seriously. He will stop at nothing to accomplish what he feel he must, and it's tough to get him to change his beliefs. Unless the evidence is truly that solid, he isn't quick to sway. If he has firm beliefs in something, he will stick to them no matter what. It takes something powerfully believable to cause N to think otherwise. In some cases, this can be a pleasant quality as N will try his best not to give up when it comes to something right, but it can also be a bad quality on the flipside. Why? Well, when it comes to something catastrophic, he also will try his best not to give up.
Oh yes, and to top that off, if you're against N's beliefs, especially if they're relating to Pokemon in any way, he likely won't be very happy with you. He also will get upset if you even think of hurting or being cruel to a Pokemon. He can quite easily become upset over these things. While not physically, he does fight against those who go against him in such a way, just moreso verbally than otherwise. He can react a little harshly by bad habit, as he's very, very tight to his beliefs. By harshly, I mean tougher wording such as calling some 'idiotic' or 'foolish', raising his voice, or some nasty glares. Depending on the situation, however, he may or may not walk away. It all depends on whether he finds it to be worth his time. In the case of Juniper in B/W, he walked away, but only because he had bigger and more important things to get to: Zekrom's summoning. Otherwise, if the fight feels more important to him, certainly don't expect him to walk away. When he takes a stance on something, it's pretty firm to the point that he can probably be pretty grating.
N never gives up. Never surrenders. Not to mention the fact that he's pretty damn annoying and rambly about it.
On top of that, N's view of the world is misconstrued. Growing up under Ghetsis' wing has made him learn different ways of 'right' and 'wrong', and after N learned about his father's true intentions... well, it just made the man more and more confused. Thus, he doesn't have a good grasp about what is good or bad. Humans treating Pokemon well also has yet to fully register. It has to a fault, yes, but not entirely, so he may be paranoid about how humans in the Academy treat their Pokemon. He wouldn't automatically assume that they're treating them wrong, but if he thinks he sees even the slightest sign, he will combat it. No exceptions. Old habits are hard to break.
Because of his views being a little more odd than most, he is prone to making mistakes and holding a bit of a naivete. He still has a lot to learn, and while he's certainly not dumb, he isn't exactly the most knowledgeable about human nature in general. He also doesn't know a lot of things as of yet, even some simpler things such as cooking for himself and other things. (Who lives off of frozen meals? N does, that's who.) He's still learning, although he has certainly improved and will keep on improving.
N is innocent and warm-hearted like a child. From the beginning, his intentions were decent, albeit for the wrong causes with the wrong methods. He is a truly caring and collected human being, and he does hold a youthful love for those he considers his 'friends'. When he's with his friends, he's nearly as carefree as any little kid on the playground would be, thinking not of issues for once, but of fun. Happiness. Glee. Everything a child could ever possibly want. He still has the heart of a little boy after having been so sheltered for so long.
Because of this and his naivete, however, he is especially unfamiliar with one certain thing about human nature: romance. He has a lot of issues understanding love and what deep emotions it entails. He doesn't know what the feeling is supposed to be like. He doesn't know what to do if he ever develops these feelings. He may, in fact, even be blind to these feelings entirely. He is also very sexually inexperienced to boot. While he does know what sex is and its reproductive purposes, that's just about the end of it.
Basically, N wouldn't be the biggest expert of love and intimacy on the planet, that's for sure.
If there's any living being N is most familiar with, it's Pokemon. Surely he wouldn't know how to reach out to every kind, but he can communicate better with them and understand them better than he can with humans. He's lived mainly with Pokemon throughout if his life with barely any human contact- that is, sans Ghetsis and Plasma, but we all know how that turned out. Basically, to N, Pokemon are his best friends, and no other living being could possibly warm his heart much more than they can.
If anyone wanted the most to change for the better after Black and White's events, it just may have been N. N's main motivation and drive at this time is to better himself. He's looking forward to getting more answers to how he should live, how to socialize with human beings, and how to restore his life to some semblance of normalcy. He wants to be a good person in society, as a defender of Pokemon and perhaps even a good friend of other people. Perhaps. He wants to improve after the mess he made, and while it's going to be a long ride, he's hanging in there. It's a dream of his to reach that point, after all. Like with any dream, it's one he will stick to like glue.
Sadly, though, he doesn't understand humans nearly as much as he wants to. In fact, he may never come to understand them normally. He can't read their emotions perfectly, and may take emotions to be a little different from what they really are (i.e. sadness as anger, emotions toward other people being directed at him). He sometimes can't even pick up on things like jokes, sarcastic remarks, or other things that would require a deeper understanding. Let's just say that part will take a lot of work to repair.
N is also the type of person to adore physics, mathematics, and anything and everything arithmetic. Even when it comes to things like a ferris wheel, he may just comment about how the formulas are so dynamic and how wonderful the machinery displays them. ... Right. Along with that, he's into sports (namely basketball), skateboarding, playgrounds, and even silly little child-like things like playing with blocks. Once a child, always a child in the case of N. That is one thing he likely will never change about himself.
In short, N's mind is like that of a child. He has a kind and carefree temperament, yet with an innocence and idealistic manner that can surely cause problems for more than just himself. Despite this, however, he wants and yearns to do the right thing, and while he isn't the best at human socialization, he is trying his best to get better. He, as a sheltered Pokemon lover, may not have much experience with people, but his main goal in life is to be at least a little more like an average human being.
Not only does he want to improve for himself, but wouldn't it make his friends, his Pokemon, proud?
Backstory:
Let me tell you a story, the story of a boy and his Pokemon.
N was born into a family he is not able to remember as we speak. While it is all a mystery to him, here it is all laid out: he was an Opelucid boy. He was born to a single mother who had just recently broken up with her boyfriend, the mother being only nineteen years of age. She didn't want a child, yet N, this little mistake of hers, came into this world. She was too late to abort him.
She kept him anyway, but it didn't last too long. N grew up with her for five years of his life, and just before he could get into kindergarten, his mother decided that she wasn't going to deal with him anymore. She got rid of the boy, the boy who was once not named N, but rather, a name that he yet cannot remember. All he could possibly pronounce or recall about his name was letter 'N'.
N was left all alone. He wasn't left alone in an orphanage, a foster home, or anything of the sort. Goodness no. He was left alone in the woods where absolutely no one could possibly find him, or so one may think. All N had left from his mother was the clothing on his back. He had nothing else to remember her by.
N was still young. He couldn't fathom what happened to him except that mommy wasn't with him. He wandered aimlessly around the forest, wailing and calling for the mommy that never really cared to find him again. He was alone with no one to love or support him. He was in a hopeless spot. One would think that any child left out in the woods would surely die if they weren't found by another human being.
A human wasn't the first living being to find young N, however. He managed only a day and a night alone. He woke up the next day in a place he didn't recognize: a small cave somewhere near the forest, yet still within the deep wilderness.
N was confused, but didn't oppose to being out of the dirt. He looked around to find out the source of what brought him here. He was quick to find said source nearby, picking off some leaves and twigs from fresh-picked forest berries. They were none other than Pokemon, specifically a Woobat, a Darmanitan, and a Zorua. N had never seen such creatures before, and so he was naturally hesitant.
It was only once Zorua approached with a Pecha berry on his head that he finally felt at ease. N accepted the berry and shared it with the other three Pokemon. He was glad to have food in his stomach, let alone the idea that he met three new friends! He felt very happy. He did love making new friends, after all. Not only that, but they were now his new family if they were going to be helping to take care of him.
From then on, the group of four proved to be inseparable. Darmanitan, Zorua, Woobat, and N all journeyed through the forest together, finding shelter, eating berries, and drinking spring water to take care of themselves. They bathed in ponds and showered under the occasional waterfall, dealing with what nature had to offer them. They even met new Pokemon along the way, such as the likes of some Minccino, Patrat, and Blitzle.
N felt surprisingly... okay. It was like being on a constant adventure with his new friends. However difficult it was living in the wild without his mommy, he felt like he could survive if he had these new Pokemon by his side. His friends, his family, and his loved ones.
That is, until they reached a nearby city.
N and the gang found themselves immediately at the hands of discrimination. Children laughed and poked fun at N for being a 'dirty little forest monkey', and then proceeded to try to hit his friends, his Pokemon with twigs and rocks. The children in the city drove them off, back into the forest to go in a different direction, hopefully to some place a little more accepting.
Once they finally ran out of sight, N fell to his knees and started to do what any child naturally would when they were hurt and scared. He began to cry. The first to approach was his precious Zorua. He walked up to N and nuzzled at his cheek, wiping his tears with his fur. Darmanitan approached next to ruffle his hair cheerfully, as if it was never even hurt at all. Woobat then pressed its nose against N's forehead, as if giving him a kiss. It was like his face was being piled with Pokemon, and...
He felt better. He loved it. He slowly began to smile, and then began to start laughing as Zorua licked his cheek. He huddled closely to his friends and snuggled together with them. He was... happy. He was very happy.
And so, it kept on like this. They wandered, they found cities, they left cities, rinse and repeat. N was finding himself interacting less and less with humans, but he didn't think badly of them. Surely there were good humans out there, right? I mean, there just had to be. Unless there really weren't, but... who was he to judge?
That line of thinking was soon to be miserably warped.
The boy soon met a man at some point in time by the name of Ghetsis. This new, unfamiliar man took N and his Pokemon in to his home: a castle surrounding the Pokemon League, albeit a partially underground one that was still in progress. It was Ghetsis' surprisingly overwhelming home. He had no one else but himself in those dwellings, although now with N and the Pokemon in the expansive setting, surely that was soon to change.
N grew up for the first few years alone in this castle with no one but Ghetsis and his Pokemon to accompany him for now. His new father always brought new Pokemon to him, which made him feel more than happy. All of these Pokemon, however, had a certain pattern about them: they were all abused by humans. Ghetsis instructed N about how humans could be to Pokemon, how some people could possibly abuse them.
Oh yeah, but Ghetsis made one teeny little change to the fact. Instead of teaching him that only some people were so cruel, he stated that all people treated Pokemon poorly. Humans and Pokemon shouldn't even possibly mingle. To make it all worse, N believed those tales. The fact that N was treated badly by a few humans along his previous travels made him feel that his father was telling the truth. Besides, he trusted him. He was, in fact, his precious daddykins, right? Right.
When N was only 10, Ghetsis began to bring along people to live in the castle. People who believed in Ghetsis' goal. The young N was told of this goal being to protect Pokemon. However, that was all a lie: the real plan was a long, thought-out plan of domination. Ghetsis was going to use his son for this, but he would need to perform some preparation and wait for N to come of age.
N was blissfully unaware of the havoc that was soon to be wrought years from that time. For now, he just continued to play basketball and skateboard in the safety of his home, constantly surrounded by Pokemon abused by humans. Ghetsis' plan was working so far, at least the part of getting N to fall for the ruse that all humans were cruel to Pokemon. N began to adapt to this belief, feeling that it was the right thing to do to protect Pokemon from vile humans.
He grew up, sheltered for the most part, rarely contacting humans at all, if ever. He reached 21, becoming a full-fledged adult, and by then, everything was ready. N walked down that carpet, walked to that throne where his father awaited him, and felt that shining golden crown get placed on his head.
He was being crowned for the newly-formed Team Plasma. He and his father decided on the plan of freeing Pokemon from humans. How? Using the power of the legendary Pokemon Zekrom, the electric dragon of myth.
Plasma's first move was to head to Accumula Town to begin their first 'seminar' of sorts to speak of their supposed mission. N followed, yet remained acting as if he was one of the ordinary townsfolk. N had a plan to follow. He needed to be a little sneaky about it, or else those terrible humans would put a stop to his mission to protect his friends.
Soon enough, Ghetsis concluded his speech and Plasma dispelled, heading for a new area. N was just about to leave himself to continue his part of the plan. That is, until he caught a glimpse of someone that would change the fate of his ideas forever: a novice Pokemon Trainer named Whitlea and their Pokemon. Oh, and Cheren, I guess. He was quick to notice something about Whitlea's Pokemon. It actually seemed... alright being around her. He was getting curious. He wanted to see and hear more of what the creature had to offer about its trainer.
The two battled. Of course, Whitlea came out on top. N was amazed, having seen something in her Poke-partner that he hadn't seen in a Pokemon in his life. He saw... dedication. Happiness. A love for its trainer. He saw a Pokemon content with being commanded rather than suffering. It was a new feeling, a different feeling. Weren't all humans cruel to Pokemon? Then why was this one looking so happy with this girl?
... He wasn't going to dwell on that. He tried hard not to. He still had a mission to fulfill.
He left. As some of Team Plasma did, he headed for his next destination, the next phase of his plan: Nacrene City. He was rushing for the museum. He wanted to find the one item that would summon the Pokemon he sought. Would the museum have the precious item he was looking for? Everything seemed to point to the idea, yet he still wasn't sure. Maybe he would get lucky, maybe not. It was worth a try.
He was proven to be unlucky. The Dark Stone wasn't here. Pity. All that remained was the Light Stone, and that... that was not meant to be. Zekrom was meant to be his. This Whitlea... he wondered what power she could possibly contain. To make him feel as if his ideals were softly shaken... perhaps there was something important to her. Was this Light Stone meant for her?
Hm. Maybe this did resemble something from the past, something so very prophetic, considering the ancient heroes and their roles with Reshiram and Zekrom.
That just meant that he needed to search for another area for his own half of the deal. In the meantime, he sent a command to Plasma: retrieve the Dragon Skull inside of the museum. The skull is a showcasing of a Pokemon's death, something that he found ghastly and terrible. He felt that it must be 'rescued' immediately, even after its perishing.
After N issued his command and left the museum, he caught sight of that girl again. That girl, Whitlea, was here again. He grew curious. He wanted to know if she, too, wanted to see a world where Pokemon could remain in peace without suffering. He initiated another battle with her, only to sadly lose a second time. This girl... This girl was a good trainer. Good at battling, at least, but was she truly good? Her Pokemon contradicted his beliefs, and yet his ideals felt so solid. He couldn't see it any other way.
At the same time, he was beginning to feel them crumble. He still shook his head and refused to let go, however, and continued on his way. His next destination was in Nimbasa with some of his grunts. He demanded for the rest of Plasma to head to Castelia City next, and asked his father if he could possibly oversee them while he headed in a different path. They agreed and parted ways from there.
N stayed at Nimbasa and took a seat for some cotton candy, a food he certainly enjoyed. He needed a small break, but only a small one. He had a plan to enact. At the same time, though... he wanted to wait for this Whitlea girl. If she was after gym badges, surely she'd be heading here after Castelia. He didn't know how long that would take, though. If it took too long, he would abandon the idea of trying to meet with her here.
He never abandoned it. She was quick to show her face and even defeat some of his companions. He was somewhat expecting that. Of course, that would surprisingly play in his favor. He did want to talk to her, after all.
He approached her and tried to convince her that he noticed Plasma heading for the center of the park. He lead her there, only to find that- according to plan- they weren't there. "Let's ride the ferris wheel and look for them there," he offered. He enjoyed ferris wheels, not to mention that Whitlea would have no choice but to sit down and listen to him there anyway.
He explained it all from there: he's Team Plasma's king. He and Ghetsis aimed to save Pokemon together. The gist of his plan was now revealed to Whitlea, and deep down, he was hoping she would understand. Of all humans, he didn't feel like he minded her too much. She seemed... nicer than most humans, which was a welcoming sight.
The ride ended, and Plasma grunts were quick to approach to check on their king. N ordered for them to leave, stating that he would protect them. He and Whitlea battled yet again, and again, he lost. So be it. He still felt he could gain the power to change everything. He told Whitlea everything: he would surpass the champion. He would take the Pokemon League under his wing so that no one could stop him from liberating Pokemon from all trainers. The only way Whitlea can possibly stop him? Collect all of the badges and reach the Pokemon League.
Maybe his earlier thought of the heroic relation really held some water.
He turned tail and left. A nagging part of his soul told him to turn back, and yet most of him refused. He kept on walking. After sending orders yet again to Plasma and Ghetsis to head near Driftveil, he left. His next destination? Chargestone Cave.
He didn't have to be inside waiting for far too long. His Plasma cohorts, the Shadow Triad, quickly lead Whitlea over to him upon her entry into Chargestone. He spoke with her, informed her that Ghetsis and his grunts were now awaiting her challenge after the Driftveil encounter, and told her of his and Plasma's investigations of her and her friends. He'd grown curious about Whitlea and her band of friends, not to mention that they were threatening to throw a wrench in their plans.
He left her again to battle his grunts, left for the end of the cave. He awaited her there, expecting her to make it, but hoping that she would at the very least give up. He sensed something positive in her, and yet having his plans ruined... he couldn't exactly have that happen either.
She made it after all. Again, they battled. Again, he lost. Again, he felt the confliction he kept on feeling every time he'd encountered this girl. How, oh how was this girl making him feel like he should abandon his ideals?! He was not going to do that under any cost. He refused. He was going to stick to it for his friends. He couldn't let those dastardly humans hurt Pokemon anymore!!
And how... how was he losing so much on his quest to free them?!
His thoughts were interrupted once Bianca and Professor Juniper entered the area, to N's surprise. So this was Unova's professor, the maker of Unova's horrible Pokedex. Mistaken beliefs, arbitrary rules that humans place Pokemon within... it was terrible, and he verbally opposed to that in front of her. He was clearly upset. He couldn't stand to let this world of humans remain as idiotic as it was now, to keep Pokemon under such confinement within the hands of these people!
He finally left the cave. Hmph. He had more important things to be doing than meddling with the professor anyhow.
N commanded for Plasma to head for Icirrus City. Maybe there, he would find what he was seeking.
Of course, he himself proved to be a little too slow. He'd entered Mistralton City just as Whitlea had left the gym. An inevitable confrontation, it seemed, and he stepped over to initiate it.
He asked Whitlea's Pokemon specifically: what kind of trainer is Whitlea?
The Pokemon believed in Whitlea. It enjoyed her company. It liked her. He was honestly astonished, yet pleased to see a Pokemon left unabused, but rather, loved by a human. At least one Pokemon was spared the awful fate of being treated cruelly. He even admitted this to Whitlea: it pained him a little to know that when he'd separate Pokemon, he'd separate people like her who treat her Pokemon fairly.
Yet he had to continue with his plan. There was no other way. The Dark Stone was what he and Plasma sought. He was going to awaken the legendary Pokemon and befriend it- specifically, Zekrom, the electric Pokemon of deep black yin. After defeating the Champion and uniting with Zekrom, nothing would stop him. Not even Whitlea, Light Stone obtainment or not.
He left, a deep frown on his face, his heart heavy. Whitlea... did he really want to do this to her? She seemed to love her Pokemon, and her Pokemon seemed to love her. To separate them would be terrible. But what else could he do? He had to save the Pokemon. He had to save the Pokemon. He had to save them.
... Icirrus. Beyond Icirrus. That's where he was going. He still had to keep on his path. He wouldn't stray from it, no matter what. He needed to go to his destination: Dragonspiral Tower, where the legendary Pokemon Zekrom slumbers!
He was quick to reach the tower and commanded for Plasma to keep guard of the place. He was so close to Zekrom that he could just taste his dream becoming a reality. He felt his heart pump within him. He was so thrilled, so excited. He didn't know what else to think anymore except for that his plan was coming to fruition.
He retrieved the Dark Stone. The stone was quickly enveloped in a deep shine, surprising N just slightly, yet thrilling him much more. He grinned happily as Zekrom awoke from its slumber and landed before him with a thunderous roar. Zekrom, at long last...
And here came Whitlea. Typical. He explained to her all that he needed to: if she wished to battle against him, he and she should become equal. She should find Reshiram, the counterpart to Zekrom, and find him at the Pokemon League. Only then will he challenge her, and only then will they battle like the prophetic heroes before them!
He hopped onto Zekrom's back and took off. Next stop: the Pokemon League. He had to battle the Elite Four and the Champion, Alder, to rightfully take the position of champion. With Zekrom at his side, surely he wouldn't lose.
He didn't. He defeated Alder with the legendary Pokemon by his side, just when none other than Whitlea had shown up. Yes, he expected this. He truly did. And now it was time for destiny to take effect. It was time... for the final battle.
He summoned his castle. With a great rumble, the palace surrounding the league rose, the skies growing dark and dreary. It was time. The final battle was going to happen here and now. The two trainers with two different goals... it was finally time to see who would come out on top! Whose ideals would prevail and become reality? N's or Whitlea's?
He waited for her. He knew she would come. He knew that if she had Reshiram, it would all be as planned, and it would all be as fate should have it.
She arrived. Reshiram would not awaken. N was admittedly surprised, yet felt that reality had sunk in: she was not the fated hero meant to combat him. He gave Whitlea two choices: fight a hopeless battle or give in to witness N's plan come to life.
Zekrom entered the room in a flash of electricity. Just then, the Light Stone finally began to react. Reshiram awakened at long, long last, and with a mighty roar, it stood at Whitlea's side. It was time at long last.
They battled a ferocious battle. It was fierce. Fiery. Close. It was everything N had imagined that it would be.
What he didn't imagine, however, was that he would... fail. He lost to her. His plan had crumbled all before his very eyes, and even Zekrom fell to her hand. He felt disheartened. He'd tried to save his precious Pokemon, and yet...
It was then that Ghetsis entered the room. His father, the father he grew to love, scolded him, belittled him, called him worthless and useless, and overall made him lose so, so much faith. N's feeling of being disheartened turned into a feeling of being overall crushed. His father was so upset with him, and not only that, he revealed the real truth: Ghetsis was using him. Ghetsis wanted the legendary Pokemon. He wanted to manipulate the fearful populace and take the world in the palm of his hands.
Ghetsis never wanted to save Pokemon. His ideals, everything he was taught as a child... everything was all a lie. N couldn't understand. He didn't know what to think, what to do. What was right anymore? What was the path he needed to take? Who could he ever trust anymore? All of these questions battered against his mind as Whitlea and Ghetsis initiated the REAL final battle.
Ghetsis lost. Whitlea remained victorious through everything. The Champion and Cheren entered the room. It was then, for the very last time, that N saw his 'father'. Alder made sure to whisk Ghetsis away to get him handed over to the authorities. Alder told him this: humans don't quarrel for the sole purpose of determining who is right. N needed to think about that. N needed to think about a lot of things, he realized.
Whitlea remained. N motioned for her to walk with him. He admitted his feelings as he met her time and time again, how his beliefs began to falter as she reconvinced him that humans and Pokemon could co-exist in harmony. Not only that, but he saw all around him what he never got to see due to Ghetsis: Pokemon and humans all over the region loving each other and protecting each other. They were friends. They were all friends.
He knew what he had to do. He had to take the time to himself and think. He had to find his answers. His life was in his own hands.
He left Whitlea with this: she must follow her dreams. If anyone could achieve their goals, he believed that she would be the one to do so. Her dreams and ideals have the power to change the world.
N disappeared into the sky with Zekrom. He had one place he needed to go before he completely left: a certain forested area he remembered from his childhood. Were they still there, he wondered? Zoroark was at the Pokemon League, yet Darmanitan and Swoobat were nowhere to be found. Where were they?
They were there, after all. He was right. They were enjoying a meal of berries, just like they were when he first met them. He hopped off of Zekrom and ran to tackle them in a big hug, a single tear dropping from his cheek.
He... He still had his friends. He'd lost his father, but he wasn't alone.
And now he had a new journey to begin.
He began to fly beyond Unova. He searched and searched for other lands, yet he had no idea where his destination should be. He was beginning to grow hungry, and Zekrom began to grow weary.
They finally reached land before it could get much worse: Final Destination City. Once they reached there and landed, Zekrom was quick to react. It flinched and snarled, as if something in this city was very much not right.
"... Zekrom?"
Once N questioned his Pokemon's well-being, it furiously shook its head. It didn't want to be here. It never, ever wanted to be here. Something about this place felt off to it, probably the fact that there was so many people. It was beginning to find this to be a bad idea.
Of course, N wanted Zekrom to be happy. If it wanted to be free, he understood. If anything, flying around with Archeops shouldn't be too difficult, so he hoped.
He let Zekrom fly off. With a bow of his head and a soft, "Thank you... my friend," N trailed away from the city's harbors. It took him some time, but he finally managed to reach a large building at the top of a hill. A school? 'Smash Academy'?
Well... hm. He did have to start somewhere.
Anything Else?:
- A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The backstory with Ghetsis is kept as vague as possible. I WILL be willing to change things up if a Ghetsis does apply and I wish to be very flexible with any future Ghettykins. Do note that this is only for the sake of the application. It would be impossible to write it any more vague as Ghetsis is very, very vital to N's backstory. Along with that, the player character is Whitlea solely for the sake of the application. In N's timeline, she is the PC, but only in his own.
- N's team: Zoroark / Klinklang / Vanilluxe / Carracosta / Archeops / Swoobat. Darmanitan remained wild, and Zekrom fled FDC, so he has neither of them, ESPECIALLY not Zekrom as it is a legendary and I feel that would be too powerful to bring in.
- His birthday is May 14th.
- His height is 6' exactly. (Yeah man he tall.) He's also not the most fit, yet he still has a pretty slim body, as he did frequently play basketball and vigorous activities inside of his castle.
- He loves sweets and typical kid food, the stuff he grew up with. Think chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese here, people.
- He isn't a fan of sodas, spicy food, and otherwise harsh flavors and feelings in his mouth. That food can just be saved for someone else, thank you.
- Oh yes, and he still plays with toys. He doesn't see why an adult should stop playing with toys once he comes of age. Hope his roommate doesn't mind toys and dolls all over the place.
- He still totally has the Menger sponge and will suck your face in with it. Except not really.
- HE IS GOING TO BE FRIENDS WITH EVERY POGLE I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT. (Well, he'll... try, at least.)
- He LOVES amusement parks and other such kiddish places. He especially adores ferris wheels, bounce houses, and ball pits. They are amazing.
- Okay no THIS is the most important part of the app. (Except okay I lied.)
- He can also communicate with Pokemon to some extent, as seen in the game (yes, it is canon!). He can basically understand what they're feeling and conveying. He's not perfect, but he is better than a normal trainer might be at this type of communication. If need be, I will put up a permissions post in case some people don't want their Pokemon characters to be understood like that!
In-Character 1st person writing sample (journal):
[A video, noticeably accidental due to the fact that the man behind the laptop was typing, flickered on. The young, tea-green-haired man was probably only in his 20s, but looked like student material nonetheless. He tacked away at the keyboard, occasionally looking behind him to watch over his playful Zoroark at the other side of the room.
He completes a text message for the journal network, which displays as such:]
Hello, Smash Academy.
I'm not sure what else I am to say except that I am a new student. I'm a... senior, I believe? That is where the Headmaster placed me. I hadn't thought that hands could live. I wonder how he sees when he does not have eyes.
All I can say is that I've not been at a school before. I don't know if that would seem peculiar or not. I was always raised by my father's studies.
... Hm. Regardless, I feel I must introduce myself. That is the right thing to do here, isn't it? Everyone should know me by some name, and that name is N. You might say I'm a Pokemon Trainer of sorts. Even I am unsure about that.
[N leaves it at an abrupt end and submits this message. Afterward, he finally heard a grunt coming from right next to him. There was Zoroark, pointing to the shiny little camera directed at him.
The video message keeps playing as N questions what's bothering the Pokemon.] Zoroark? Is something the matter? [He glanced around the general area the Pokemon was pointing at.] No, I don't see anything wrong. It looks normal, or is it-...
[Oh. The camera light was blinking some text. "Recording..." That's what it said.
Well, oops. N sheepishly scratched his cheek.]
I see. How long has this been playing? I thought that button was for the speaker. How odd.
[He looks for said button again and curiously presses it. The video cuts off at that very moment. What is being good at computers?]
In-Character 3rd person writing post:
Betrayal. Betrayal. Betrayal.
The only word that could fill his head was 'betrayal'.
It was honestly the only fitting word, N mused, eyelids drooped and peering idly at Zekrom's skin. As the Pokemon raced through the skies, so did his thoughts as they flew through his mind. Ghetsis was his father, the man who took him in, the man who raised him. All of his thoughts of the world hinged on this man. All senses of right and wrong were developed in him due to this man, and yet all he wanted was power. Power, corruption, a world all for himself, Pokemon all for himself... and yet nothing about liberation was truthful.
Ghetsis never cared about the Pokemon and their well-being. He just sought them for his own selfish needs, and he was using his own son to reach said needs.
The man's lip curled in a scowl, his gaze sharpening into a glare as he silently felt his anger gather within him. Deep in his heart, he knew that he couldn't trust that man again, but then... who was he to trust?
Whitlea had a good heart. He knew he could trust her. She had dreams, dreams like he had, at least it seemed like it. He, too, had dreams. He was just aiming for his dreams. He had no idea that what he was doing was simply so catastrophic and twisted.
Then again, there was also that old saying that once one hits rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. N had to go in that direction. He had to go up. The words Alder spoke to him over and over in his head and it was making him come to a realization.
He would make it. He would make it in this world without Ghetsis.
"Zekrom," he only half-consciously spoke, his eyes drifting to the horizon. A tall and bright city could be seen on the horizon, one he had never seen before.
"Do you think... I was worthy of being a hero?"
The Pokemon let out a surprisingly gentle rumble, one that brought a smile to the trainer's face.
As long as his genuine friends believed in him, he felt that he had a good chance. He could do this.
Out-of-Character Information
Name: Essay
Are you over 15?: You guys know this!
LJ username: skorupion
Time Zone: -5 GMT
AIM: horribee
MSN: lunarwingit@hotmail.com
E-mail: youressayisdue@gmail.com
Tegaki: Happy Go Yogurt
Anything Else?: yas
In-Character Information
Name: N Harmonia
Game/Series: Pokemon Black / White
Canon Point: Post-game
Age & Grade Level: 21, Senior
Personality:
Idealistic would likely be the best term to describe N in a nutshell. He's a dreamer, and when he dreams, he definitely takes it seriously. He will stop at nothing to accomplish what he feel he must, and it's tough to get him to change his beliefs. Unless the evidence is truly that solid, he isn't quick to sway. If he has firm beliefs in something, he will stick to them no matter what. It takes something powerfully believable to cause N to think otherwise. In some cases, this can be a pleasant quality as N will try his best not to give up when it comes to something right, but it can also be a bad quality on the flipside. Why? Well, when it comes to something catastrophic, he also will try his best not to give up.
Oh yes, and to top that off, if you're against N's beliefs, especially if they're relating to Pokemon in any way, he likely won't be very happy with you. He also will get upset if you even think of hurting or being cruel to a Pokemon. He can quite easily become upset over these things. While not physically, he does fight against those who go against him in such a way, just moreso verbally than otherwise. He can react a little harshly by bad habit, as he's very, very tight to his beliefs. By harshly, I mean tougher wording such as calling some 'idiotic' or 'foolish', raising his voice, or some nasty glares. Depending on the situation, however, he may or may not walk away. It all depends on whether he finds it to be worth his time. In the case of Juniper in B/W, he walked away, but only because he had bigger and more important things to get to: Zekrom's summoning. Otherwise, if the fight feels more important to him, certainly don't expect him to walk away. When he takes a stance on something, it's pretty firm to the point that he can probably be pretty grating.
N never gives up. Never surrenders. Not to mention the fact that he's pretty damn annoying and rambly about it.
On top of that, N's view of the world is misconstrued. Growing up under Ghetsis' wing has made him learn different ways of 'right' and 'wrong', and after N learned about his father's true intentions... well, it just made the man more and more confused. Thus, he doesn't have a good grasp about what is good or bad. Humans treating Pokemon well also has yet to fully register. It has to a fault, yes, but not entirely, so he may be paranoid about how humans in the Academy treat their Pokemon. He wouldn't automatically assume that they're treating them wrong, but if he thinks he sees even the slightest sign, he will combat it. No exceptions. Old habits are hard to break.
Because of his views being a little more odd than most, he is prone to making mistakes and holding a bit of a naivete. He still has a lot to learn, and while he's certainly not dumb, he isn't exactly the most knowledgeable about human nature in general. He also doesn't know a lot of things as of yet, even some simpler things such as cooking for himself and other things. (Who lives off of frozen meals? N does, that's who.) He's still learning, although he has certainly improved and will keep on improving.
N is innocent and warm-hearted like a child. From the beginning, his intentions were decent, albeit for the wrong causes with the wrong methods. He is a truly caring and collected human being, and he does hold a youthful love for those he considers his 'friends'. When he's with his friends, he's nearly as carefree as any little kid on the playground would be, thinking not of issues for once, but of fun. Happiness. Glee. Everything a child could ever possibly want. He still has the heart of a little boy after having been so sheltered for so long.
Because of this and his naivete, however, he is especially unfamiliar with one certain thing about human nature: romance. He has a lot of issues understanding love and what deep emotions it entails. He doesn't know what the feeling is supposed to be like. He doesn't know what to do if he ever develops these feelings. He may, in fact, even be blind to these feelings entirely. He is also very sexually inexperienced to boot. While he does know what sex is and its reproductive purposes, that's just about the end of it.
Basically, N wouldn't be the biggest expert of love and intimacy on the planet, that's for sure.
If there's any living being N is most familiar with, it's Pokemon. Surely he wouldn't know how to reach out to every kind, but he can communicate better with them and understand them better than he can with humans. He's lived mainly with Pokemon throughout if his life with barely any human contact- that is, sans Ghetsis and Plasma, but we all know how that turned out. Basically, to N, Pokemon are his best friends, and no other living being could possibly warm his heart much more than they can.
If anyone wanted the most to change for the better after Black and White's events, it just may have been N. N's main motivation and drive at this time is to better himself. He's looking forward to getting more answers to how he should live, how to socialize with human beings, and how to restore his life to some semblance of normalcy. He wants to be a good person in society, as a defender of Pokemon and perhaps even a good friend of other people. Perhaps. He wants to improve after the mess he made, and while it's going to be a long ride, he's hanging in there. It's a dream of his to reach that point, after all. Like with any dream, it's one he will stick to like glue.
Sadly, though, he doesn't understand humans nearly as much as he wants to. In fact, he may never come to understand them normally. He can't read their emotions perfectly, and may take emotions to be a little different from what they really are (i.e. sadness as anger, emotions toward other people being directed at him). He sometimes can't even pick up on things like jokes, sarcastic remarks, or other things that would require a deeper understanding. Let's just say that part will take a lot of work to repair.
N is also the type of person to adore physics, mathematics, and anything and everything arithmetic. Even when it comes to things like a ferris wheel, he may just comment about how the formulas are so dynamic and how wonderful the machinery displays them. ... Right. Along with that, he's into sports (namely basketball), skateboarding, playgrounds, and even silly little child-like things like playing with blocks. Once a child, always a child in the case of N. That is one thing he likely will never change about himself.
In short, N's mind is like that of a child. He has a kind and carefree temperament, yet with an innocence and idealistic manner that can surely cause problems for more than just himself. Despite this, however, he wants and yearns to do the right thing, and while he isn't the best at human socialization, he is trying his best to get better. He, as a sheltered Pokemon lover, may not have much experience with people, but his main goal in life is to be at least a little more like an average human being.
Not only does he want to improve for himself, but wouldn't it make his friends, his Pokemon, proud?
Backstory:
Let me tell you a story, the story of a boy and his Pokemon.
N was born into a family he is not able to remember as we speak. While it is all a mystery to him, here it is all laid out: he was an Opelucid boy. He was born to a single mother who had just recently broken up with her boyfriend, the mother being only nineteen years of age. She didn't want a child, yet N, this little mistake of hers, came into this world. She was too late to abort him.
She kept him anyway, but it didn't last too long. N grew up with her for five years of his life, and just before he could get into kindergarten, his mother decided that she wasn't going to deal with him anymore. She got rid of the boy, the boy who was once not named N, but rather, a name that he yet cannot remember. All he could possibly pronounce or recall about his name was letter 'N'.
N was left all alone. He wasn't left alone in an orphanage, a foster home, or anything of the sort. Goodness no. He was left alone in the woods where absolutely no one could possibly find him, or so one may think. All N had left from his mother was the clothing on his back. He had nothing else to remember her by.
N was still young. He couldn't fathom what happened to him except that mommy wasn't with him. He wandered aimlessly around the forest, wailing and calling for the mommy that never really cared to find him again. He was alone with no one to love or support him. He was in a hopeless spot. One would think that any child left out in the woods would surely die if they weren't found by another human being.
A human wasn't the first living being to find young N, however. He managed only a day and a night alone. He woke up the next day in a place he didn't recognize: a small cave somewhere near the forest, yet still within the deep wilderness.
N was confused, but didn't oppose to being out of the dirt. He looked around to find out the source of what brought him here. He was quick to find said source nearby, picking off some leaves and twigs from fresh-picked forest berries. They were none other than Pokemon, specifically a Woobat, a Darmanitan, and a Zorua. N had never seen such creatures before, and so he was naturally hesitant.
It was only once Zorua approached with a Pecha berry on his head that he finally felt at ease. N accepted the berry and shared it with the other three Pokemon. He was glad to have food in his stomach, let alone the idea that he met three new friends! He felt very happy. He did love making new friends, after all. Not only that, but they were now his new family if they were going to be helping to take care of him.
From then on, the group of four proved to be inseparable. Darmanitan, Zorua, Woobat, and N all journeyed through the forest together, finding shelter, eating berries, and drinking spring water to take care of themselves. They bathed in ponds and showered under the occasional waterfall, dealing with what nature had to offer them. They even met new Pokemon along the way, such as the likes of some Minccino, Patrat, and Blitzle.
N felt surprisingly... okay. It was like being on a constant adventure with his new friends. However difficult it was living in the wild without his mommy, he felt like he could survive if he had these new Pokemon by his side. His friends, his family, and his loved ones.
That is, until they reached a nearby city.
N and the gang found themselves immediately at the hands of discrimination. Children laughed and poked fun at N for being a 'dirty little forest monkey', and then proceeded to try to hit his friends, his Pokemon with twigs and rocks. The children in the city drove them off, back into the forest to go in a different direction, hopefully to some place a little more accepting.
Once they finally ran out of sight, N fell to his knees and started to do what any child naturally would when they were hurt and scared. He began to cry. The first to approach was his precious Zorua. He walked up to N and nuzzled at his cheek, wiping his tears with his fur. Darmanitan approached next to ruffle his hair cheerfully, as if it was never even hurt at all. Woobat then pressed its nose against N's forehead, as if giving him a kiss. It was like his face was being piled with Pokemon, and...
He felt better. He loved it. He slowly began to smile, and then began to start laughing as Zorua licked his cheek. He huddled closely to his friends and snuggled together with them. He was... happy. He was very happy.
And so, it kept on like this. They wandered, they found cities, they left cities, rinse and repeat. N was finding himself interacting less and less with humans, but he didn't think badly of them. Surely there were good humans out there, right? I mean, there just had to be. Unless there really weren't, but... who was he to judge?
That line of thinking was soon to be miserably warped.
The boy soon met a man at some point in time by the name of Ghetsis. This new, unfamiliar man took N and his Pokemon in to his home: a castle surrounding the Pokemon League, albeit a partially underground one that was still in progress. It was Ghetsis' surprisingly overwhelming home. He had no one else but himself in those dwellings, although now with N and the Pokemon in the expansive setting, surely that was soon to change.
N grew up for the first few years alone in this castle with no one but Ghetsis and his Pokemon to accompany him for now. His new father always brought new Pokemon to him, which made him feel more than happy. All of these Pokemon, however, had a certain pattern about them: they were all abused by humans. Ghetsis instructed N about how humans could be to Pokemon, how some people could possibly abuse them.
Oh yeah, but Ghetsis made one teeny little change to the fact. Instead of teaching him that only some people were so cruel, he stated that all people treated Pokemon poorly. Humans and Pokemon shouldn't even possibly mingle. To make it all worse, N believed those tales. The fact that N was treated badly by a few humans along his previous travels made him feel that his father was telling the truth. Besides, he trusted him. He was, in fact, his precious daddykins, right? Right.
When N was only 10, Ghetsis began to bring along people to live in the castle. People who believed in Ghetsis' goal. The young N was told of this goal being to protect Pokemon. However, that was all a lie: the real plan was a long, thought-out plan of domination. Ghetsis was going to use his son for this, but he would need to perform some preparation and wait for N to come of age.
N was blissfully unaware of the havoc that was soon to be wrought years from that time. For now, he just continued to play basketball and skateboard in the safety of his home, constantly surrounded by Pokemon abused by humans. Ghetsis' plan was working so far, at least the part of getting N to fall for the ruse that all humans were cruel to Pokemon. N began to adapt to this belief, feeling that it was the right thing to do to protect Pokemon from vile humans.
He grew up, sheltered for the most part, rarely contacting humans at all, if ever. He reached 21, becoming a full-fledged adult, and by then, everything was ready. N walked down that carpet, walked to that throne where his father awaited him, and felt that shining golden crown get placed on his head.
He was being crowned for the newly-formed Team Plasma. He and his father decided on the plan of freeing Pokemon from humans. How? Using the power of the legendary Pokemon Zekrom, the electric dragon of myth.
Plasma's first move was to head to Accumula Town to begin their first 'seminar' of sorts to speak of their supposed mission. N followed, yet remained acting as if he was one of the ordinary townsfolk. N had a plan to follow. He needed to be a little sneaky about it, or else those terrible humans would put a stop to his mission to protect his friends.
Soon enough, Ghetsis concluded his speech and Plasma dispelled, heading for a new area. N was just about to leave himself to continue his part of the plan. That is, until he caught a glimpse of someone that would change the fate of his ideas forever: a novice Pokemon Trainer named Whitlea and their Pokemon. Oh, and Cheren, I guess. He was quick to notice something about Whitlea's Pokemon. It actually seemed... alright being around her. He was getting curious. He wanted to see and hear more of what the creature had to offer about its trainer.
The two battled. Of course, Whitlea came out on top. N was amazed, having seen something in her Poke-partner that he hadn't seen in a Pokemon in his life. He saw... dedication. Happiness. A love for its trainer. He saw a Pokemon content with being commanded rather than suffering. It was a new feeling, a different feeling. Weren't all humans cruel to Pokemon? Then why was this one looking so happy with this girl?
... He wasn't going to dwell on that. He tried hard not to. He still had a mission to fulfill.
He left. As some of Team Plasma did, he headed for his next destination, the next phase of his plan: Nacrene City. He was rushing for the museum. He wanted to find the one item that would summon the Pokemon he sought. Would the museum have the precious item he was looking for? Everything seemed to point to the idea, yet he still wasn't sure. Maybe he would get lucky, maybe not. It was worth a try.
He was proven to be unlucky. The Dark Stone wasn't here. Pity. All that remained was the Light Stone, and that... that was not meant to be. Zekrom was meant to be his. This Whitlea... he wondered what power she could possibly contain. To make him feel as if his ideals were softly shaken... perhaps there was something important to her. Was this Light Stone meant for her?
Hm. Maybe this did resemble something from the past, something so very prophetic, considering the ancient heroes and their roles with Reshiram and Zekrom.
That just meant that he needed to search for another area for his own half of the deal. In the meantime, he sent a command to Plasma: retrieve the Dragon Skull inside of the museum. The skull is a showcasing of a Pokemon's death, something that he found ghastly and terrible. He felt that it must be 'rescued' immediately, even after its perishing.
After N issued his command and left the museum, he caught sight of that girl again. That girl, Whitlea, was here again. He grew curious. He wanted to know if she, too, wanted to see a world where Pokemon could remain in peace without suffering. He initiated another battle with her, only to sadly lose a second time. This girl... This girl was a good trainer. Good at battling, at least, but was she truly good? Her Pokemon contradicted his beliefs, and yet his ideals felt so solid. He couldn't see it any other way.
At the same time, he was beginning to feel them crumble. He still shook his head and refused to let go, however, and continued on his way. His next destination was in Nimbasa with some of his grunts. He demanded for the rest of Plasma to head to Castelia City next, and asked his father if he could possibly oversee them while he headed in a different path. They agreed and parted ways from there.
N stayed at Nimbasa and took a seat for some cotton candy, a food he certainly enjoyed. He needed a small break, but only a small one. He had a plan to enact. At the same time, though... he wanted to wait for this Whitlea girl. If she was after gym badges, surely she'd be heading here after Castelia. He didn't know how long that would take, though. If it took too long, he would abandon the idea of trying to meet with her here.
He never abandoned it. She was quick to show her face and even defeat some of his companions. He was somewhat expecting that. Of course, that would surprisingly play in his favor. He did want to talk to her, after all.
He approached her and tried to convince her that he noticed Plasma heading for the center of the park. He lead her there, only to find that- according to plan- they weren't there. "Let's ride the ferris wheel and look for them there," he offered. He enjoyed ferris wheels, not to mention that Whitlea would have no choice but to sit down and listen to him there anyway.
He explained it all from there: he's Team Plasma's king. He and Ghetsis aimed to save Pokemon together. The gist of his plan was now revealed to Whitlea, and deep down, he was hoping she would understand. Of all humans, he didn't feel like he minded her too much. She seemed... nicer than most humans, which was a welcoming sight.
The ride ended, and Plasma grunts were quick to approach to check on their king. N ordered for them to leave, stating that he would protect them. He and Whitlea battled yet again, and again, he lost. So be it. He still felt he could gain the power to change everything. He told Whitlea everything: he would surpass the champion. He would take the Pokemon League under his wing so that no one could stop him from liberating Pokemon from all trainers. The only way Whitlea can possibly stop him? Collect all of the badges and reach the Pokemon League.
Maybe his earlier thought of the heroic relation really held some water.
He turned tail and left. A nagging part of his soul told him to turn back, and yet most of him refused. He kept on walking. After sending orders yet again to Plasma and Ghetsis to head near Driftveil, he left. His next destination? Chargestone Cave.
He didn't have to be inside waiting for far too long. His Plasma cohorts, the Shadow Triad, quickly lead Whitlea over to him upon her entry into Chargestone. He spoke with her, informed her that Ghetsis and his grunts were now awaiting her challenge after the Driftveil encounter, and told her of his and Plasma's investigations of her and her friends. He'd grown curious about Whitlea and her band of friends, not to mention that they were threatening to throw a wrench in their plans.
He left her again to battle his grunts, left for the end of the cave. He awaited her there, expecting her to make it, but hoping that she would at the very least give up. He sensed something positive in her, and yet having his plans ruined... he couldn't exactly have that happen either.
She made it after all. Again, they battled. Again, he lost. Again, he felt the confliction he kept on feeling every time he'd encountered this girl. How, oh how was this girl making him feel like he should abandon his ideals?! He was not going to do that under any cost. He refused. He was going to stick to it for his friends. He couldn't let those dastardly humans hurt Pokemon anymore!!
And how... how was he losing so much on his quest to free them?!
His thoughts were interrupted once Bianca and Professor Juniper entered the area, to N's surprise. So this was Unova's professor, the maker of Unova's horrible Pokedex. Mistaken beliefs, arbitrary rules that humans place Pokemon within... it was terrible, and he verbally opposed to that in front of her. He was clearly upset. He couldn't stand to let this world of humans remain as idiotic as it was now, to keep Pokemon under such confinement within the hands of these people!
He finally left the cave. Hmph. He had more important things to be doing than meddling with the professor anyhow.
N commanded for Plasma to head for Icirrus City. Maybe there, he would find what he was seeking.
Of course, he himself proved to be a little too slow. He'd entered Mistralton City just as Whitlea had left the gym. An inevitable confrontation, it seemed, and he stepped over to initiate it.
He asked Whitlea's Pokemon specifically: what kind of trainer is Whitlea?
The Pokemon believed in Whitlea. It enjoyed her company. It liked her. He was honestly astonished, yet pleased to see a Pokemon left unabused, but rather, loved by a human. At least one Pokemon was spared the awful fate of being treated cruelly. He even admitted this to Whitlea: it pained him a little to know that when he'd separate Pokemon, he'd separate people like her who treat her Pokemon fairly.
Yet he had to continue with his plan. There was no other way. The Dark Stone was what he and Plasma sought. He was going to awaken the legendary Pokemon and befriend it- specifically, Zekrom, the electric Pokemon of deep black yin. After defeating the Champion and uniting with Zekrom, nothing would stop him. Not even Whitlea, Light Stone obtainment or not.
He left, a deep frown on his face, his heart heavy. Whitlea... did he really want to do this to her? She seemed to love her Pokemon, and her Pokemon seemed to love her. To separate them would be terrible. But what else could he do? He had to save the Pokemon. He had to save the Pokemon. He had to save them.
... Icirrus. Beyond Icirrus. That's where he was going. He still had to keep on his path. He wouldn't stray from it, no matter what. He needed to go to his destination: Dragonspiral Tower, where the legendary Pokemon Zekrom slumbers!
He was quick to reach the tower and commanded for Plasma to keep guard of the place. He was so close to Zekrom that he could just taste his dream becoming a reality. He felt his heart pump within him. He was so thrilled, so excited. He didn't know what else to think anymore except for that his plan was coming to fruition.
He retrieved the Dark Stone. The stone was quickly enveloped in a deep shine, surprising N just slightly, yet thrilling him much more. He grinned happily as Zekrom awoke from its slumber and landed before him with a thunderous roar. Zekrom, at long last...
And here came Whitlea. Typical. He explained to her all that he needed to: if she wished to battle against him, he and she should become equal. She should find Reshiram, the counterpart to Zekrom, and find him at the Pokemon League. Only then will he challenge her, and only then will they battle like the prophetic heroes before them!
He hopped onto Zekrom's back and took off. Next stop: the Pokemon League. He had to battle the Elite Four and the Champion, Alder, to rightfully take the position of champion. With Zekrom at his side, surely he wouldn't lose.
He didn't. He defeated Alder with the legendary Pokemon by his side, just when none other than Whitlea had shown up. Yes, he expected this. He truly did. And now it was time for destiny to take effect. It was time... for the final battle.
He summoned his castle. With a great rumble, the palace surrounding the league rose, the skies growing dark and dreary. It was time. The final battle was going to happen here and now. The two trainers with two different goals... it was finally time to see who would come out on top! Whose ideals would prevail and become reality? N's or Whitlea's?
He waited for her. He knew she would come. He knew that if she had Reshiram, it would all be as planned, and it would all be as fate should have it.
She arrived. Reshiram would not awaken. N was admittedly surprised, yet felt that reality had sunk in: she was not the fated hero meant to combat him. He gave Whitlea two choices: fight a hopeless battle or give in to witness N's plan come to life.
Zekrom entered the room in a flash of electricity. Just then, the Light Stone finally began to react. Reshiram awakened at long, long last, and with a mighty roar, it stood at Whitlea's side. It was time at long last.
They battled a ferocious battle. It was fierce. Fiery. Close. It was everything N had imagined that it would be.
What he didn't imagine, however, was that he would... fail. He lost to her. His plan had crumbled all before his very eyes, and even Zekrom fell to her hand. He felt disheartened. He'd tried to save his precious Pokemon, and yet...
It was then that Ghetsis entered the room. His father, the father he grew to love, scolded him, belittled him, called him worthless and useless, and overall made him lose so, so much faith. N's feeling of being disheartened turned into a feeling of being overall crushed. His father was so upset with him, and not only that, he revealed the real truth: Ghetsis was using him. Ghetsis wanted the legendary Pokemon. He wanted to manipulate the fearful populace and take the world in the palm of his hands.
Ghetsis never wanted to save Pokemon. His ideals, everything he was taught as a child... everything was all a lie. N couldn't understand. He didn't know what to think, what to do. What was right anymore? What was the path he needed to take? Who could he ever trust anymore? All of these questions battered against his mind as Whitlea and Ghetsis initiated the REAL final battle.
Ghetsis lost. Whitlea remained victorious through everything. The Champion and Cheren entered the room. It was then, for the very last time, that N saw his 'father'. Alder made sure to whisk Ghetsis away to get him handed over to the authorities. Alder told him this: humans don't quarrel for the sole purpose of determining who is right. N needed to think about that. N needed to think about a lot of things, he realized.
Whitlea remained. N motioned for her to walk with him. He admitted his feelings as he met her time and time again, how his beliefs began to falter as she reconvinced him that humans and Pokemon could co-exist in harmony. Not only that, but he saw all around him what he never got to see due to Ghetsis: Pokemon and humans all over the region loving each other and protecting each other. They were friends. They were all friends.
He knew what he had to do. He had to take the time to himself and think. He had to find his answers. His life was in his own hands.
He left Whitlea with this: she must follow her dreams. If anyone could achieve their goals, he believed that she would be the one to do so. Her dreams and ideals have the power to change the world.
N disappeared into the sky with Zekrom. He had one place he needed to go before he completely left: a certain forested area he remembered from his childhood. Were they still there, he wondered? Zoroark was at the Pokemon League, yet Darmanitan and Swoobat were nowhere to be found. Where were they?
They were there, after all. He was right. They were enjoying a meal of berries, just like they were when he first met them. He hopped off of Zekrom and ran to tackle them in a big hug, a single tear dropping from his cheek.
He... He still had his friends. He'd lost his father, but he wasn't alone.
And now he had a new journey to begin.
He began to fly beyond Unova. He searched and searched for other lands, yet he had no idea where his destination should be. He was beginning to grow hungry, and Zekrom began to grow weary.
They finally reached land before it could get much worse: Final Destination City. Once they reached there and landed, Zekrom was quick to react. It flinched and snarled, as if something in this city was very much not right.
"... Zekrom?"
Once N questioned his Pokemon's well-being, it furiously shook its head. It didn't want to be here. It never, ever wanted to be here. Something about this place felt off to it, probably the fact that there was so many people. It was beginning to find this to be a bad idea.
Of course, N wanted Zekrom to be happy. If it wanted to be free, he understood. If anything, flying around with Archeops shouldn't be too difficult, so he hoped.
He let Zekrom fly off. With a bow of his head and a soft, "Thank you... my friend," N trailed away from the city's harbors. It took him some time, but he finally managed to reach a large building at the top of a hill. A school? 'Smash Academy'?
Well... hm. He did have to start somewhere.
Anything Else?:
- A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The backstory with Ghetsis is kept as vague as possible. I WILL be willing to change things up if a Ghetsis does apply and I wish to be very flexible with any future Ghettykins. Do note that this is only for the sake of the application. It would be impossible to write it any more vague as Ghetsis is very, very vital to N's backstory. Along with that, the player character is Whitlea solely for the sake of the application. In N's timeline, she is the PC, but only in his own.
- N's team: Zoroark / Klinklang / Vanilluxe / Carracosta / Archeops / Swoobat. Darmanitan remained wild, and Zekrom fled FDC, so he has neither of them, ESPECIALLY not Zekrom as it is a legendary and I feel that would be too powerful to bring in.
- His birthday is May 14th.
- His height is 6' exactly. (Yeah man he tall.) He's also not the most fit, yet he still has a pretty slim body, as he did frequently play basketball and vigorous activities inside of his castle.
- He loves sweets and typical kid food, the stuff he grew up with. Think chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese here, people.
- He isn't a fan of sodas, spicy food, and otherwise harsh flavors and feelings in his mouth. That food can just be saved for someone else, thank you.
- Oh yes, and he still plays with toys. He doesn't see why an adult should stop playing with toys once he comes of age. Hope his roommate doesn't mind toys and dolls all over the place.
- He still totally has the Menger sponge and will suck your face in with it. Except not really.
- HE IS GOING TO BE FRIENDS WITH EVERY POGLE I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT. (Well, he'll... try, at least.)
- He LOVES amusement parks and other such kiddish places. He especially adores ferris wheels, bounce houses, and ball pits. They are amazing.
- Okay no THIS is the most important part of the app. (Except okay I lied.)
- He can also communicate with Pokemon to some extent, as seen in the game (yes, it is canon!). He can basically understand what they're feeling and conveying. He's not perfect, but he is better than a normal trainer might be at this type of communication. If need be, I will put up a permissions post in case some people don't want their Pokemon characters to be understood like that!
In-Character 1st person writing sample (journal):
[A video, noticeably accidental due to the fact that the man behind the laptop was typing, flickered on. The young, tea-green-haired man was probably only in his 20s, but looked like student material nonetheless. He tacked away at the keyboard, occasionally looking behind him to watch over his playful Zoroark at the other side of the room.
He completes a text message for the journal network, which displays as such:]
Hello, Smash Academy.
I'm not sure what else I am to say except that I am a new student. I'm a... senior, I believe? That is where the Headmaster placed me. I hadn't thought that hands could live. I wonder how he sees when he does not have eyes.
All I can say is that I've not been at a school before. I don't know if that would seem peculiar or not. I was always raised by my father's studies.
... Hm. Regardless, I feel I must introduce myself. That is the right thing to do here, isn't it? Everyone should know me by some name, and that name is N. You might say I'm a Pokemon Trainer of sorts. Even I am unsure about that.
[N leaves it at an abrupt end and submits this message. Afterward, he finally heard a grunt coming from right next to him. There was Zoroark, pointing to the shiny little camera directed at him.
The video message keeps playing as N questions what's bothering the Pokemon.] Zoroark? Is something the matter? [He glanced around the general area the Pokemon was pointing at.] No, I don't see anything wrong. It looks normal, or is it-...
[Oh. The camera light was blinking some text. "Recording..." That's what it said.
Well, oops. N sheepishly scratched his cheek.]
I see. How long has this been playing? I thought that button was for the speaker. How odd.
[He looks for said button again and curiously presses it. The video cuts off at that very moment. What is being good at computers?]
In-Character 3rd person writing post:
Betrayal. Betrayal. Betrayal.
The only word that could fill his head was 'betrayal'.
It was honestly the only fitting word, N mused, eyelids drooped and peering idly at Zekrom's skin. As the Pokemon raced through the skies, so did his thoughts as they flew through his mind. Ghetsis was his father, the man who took him in, the man who raised him. All of his thoughts of the world hinged on this man. All senses of right and wrong were developed in him due to this man, and yet all he wanted was power. Power, corruption, a world all for himself, Pokemon all for himself... and yet nothing about liberation was truthful.
Ghetsis never cared about the Pokemon and their well-being. He just sought them for his own selfish needs, and he was using his own son to reach said needs.
The man's lip curled in a scowl, his gaze sharpening into a glare as he silently felt his anger gather within him. Deep in his heart, he knew that he couldn't trust that man again, but then... who was he to trust?
Whitlea had a good heart. He knew he could trust her. She had dreams, dreams like he had, at least it seemed like it. He, too, had dreams. He was just aiming for his dreams. He had no idea that what he was doing was simply so catastrophic and twisted.
Then again, there was also that old saying that once one hits rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. N had to go in that direction. He had to go up. The words Alder spoke to him over and over in his head and it was making him come to a realization.
He would make it. He would make it in this world without Ghetsis.
"Zekrom," he only half-consciously spoke, his eyes drifting to the horizon. A tall and bright city could be seen on the horizon, one he had never seen before.
"Do you think... I was worthy of being a hero?"
The Pokemon let out a surprisingly gentle rumble, one that brought a smile to the trainer's face.
As long as his genuine friends believed in him, he felt that he had a good chance. He could do this.