♔ Eyes brimming with dark flame...

[singularjustice]

Characters: N and Minato
Status: Closed.


It had been two days since N had been home, and no one seemed quite sure where he was. His name was still on the SFC, and he had been spotted once or twice, but he missed any appointments he had made and did not contact any of his friends or housemates.

If one paid close attention, however, in the early morning hours, they might catch sight of Purrloin darting down the street, a stolen bagel in her mouth. She heads out of the plaza and far beyond the city limits, slipping into the forest.

In one of the forest clearings, there sits the missing boy, surrounded by his team and seemingly content. He reaches out and takes the bagel from Purrloin's mouth, giving her a fond stroke before he takes a bite.

Comments

[messianic]

[It was strange, to Minato, that N suddenly disappeared. No contact. No calls. No responses. Strange for his friend to act in such a way--rather inconsiderate, but even more worrisome.

When Minato caught sight of Purrloin, it was no surprise that he followed.

And into the forest he went, following his own instincts now more than the Pokemon that he had lost sight of.

And there--a flash of green and a content boy--his friend. Minato opened his mouth to say something, stepping forward--

And stopped dead, closing his mouth.

Strange, that Susano-o shrank away from N instead of humming in his mind in response to the link. Strange that none of his Personas now reacted positively to N.

Minato shuffles through the ones in his mind quickly, considering, and--

...He doesn't have one of the Justice Arcana, does he? ....ah. Something is wrong.]

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

[ Archeops made a noise at the new arrival, causing N to look up. There was no recognition in his eyes as he spotted Minato. His chewing slowed for a moment as he cocked his head one way and then the other, studying the boy. Then he swallows, rolling to his feet. ]

They know you. Strange. You are no trainer.

[messianic]

[...ah. That one comment says more than enough. He's quiet. And he remains where he stands.]

That's because I'm your friend.

[Those mannerisms--]

...You don't remember?

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

My friend.

[ The way he says the word is careful and with the slightest hint of distaste, as if it he could touch it, he would only lift it with two fingers and keep it away from his body. His eyes narrow and then widen again, and he considers Zoroark. ]

No. It seems there is a lot I do not remember. It is very curious. Months and months have passed, and they tell me there is much I did...

[ Now he looks at Reshiram, reaching a hand out to her. She touches her muzzle to his palm. ]

And it is obvious. I awoke the one I sought. I am sure that was a beautiful moment.

[messianic]

...You awoke the one you sought?

[He stays, silent and watching and a little wary, much as he hates to admit it even to himself.

Why...would Vatheon do this? Why is all of their progress erased?]

Why are you out here in the forest?

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

Yes. Reshiram... we will change the world together.

[ The edges of his lips turn upwards slightly. It is as if when he smiles, he does not think about doing it; it is just a natural instinct he cannot control.

But then his attention returns to Minato, considering the question. ]

I do not want to be in that city... it is so dead there. This place may be short on Pokemon, but there are creatures here in the forest-- animals, they called them. This place is much more ideal.

[messianic]

[...]

Change the world? Why does the world need changing?

[It's simply a curious question for now. He has no reason to be accusing.]

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

Look around you. Even in this place with few Pokemon... humans deaden it. They put down their bricks and mortar, block the soil from the sun. They drive the animals out here, to the only place they allow them...and when the city can no longer support the number of humans there, they will steal this place as well.

[ He looks up towards the watery sky. ]

Funny how even in the deepest of oceans, the marks of humanity can be found. How far will they spread, how much will they destroy?

[messianic]

[Silence. He peers up at the sky (the sea?) framed by trees and ponders this, hands in his pockets.]

...I am curious about something, N-kun.

Why do you have the right to judge this?

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

I am the new hero of Unova. It has been proven.

[ There is a dangerous confidence in his voice, an absolute surety that N, the future N, N the Fool, never has. ]

By Reshiram. It awoke for me, after so many years in slumber, after so many others tried.

[messianic]

You didn't answer my question.

[...]

Being a hero does not give you the right to judge all others.

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

Does it not? Reshiram created Unova. It gave the land life, created all of its beauty...

And now it stands with me, against what has happened to the land it birthed. I have heard the cries of the Pokemon, I have seen their scars and felt their fear. I know what humankind has done to them. Will continue doing to them if they are not stopped.

The Pokemon cannot defend themselves against humankind, so I will.

[messianic]

It stands with you to make a change. It does not stand with you to make a judgement. There is a difference.

The choice seems to be yours.

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

One must make a judgment to make a change. One must judge what is right or wrong, what action must be taken. The world cannot be left grey.

[messianic]

[Hm.]

Why? What's wrong with grey?

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

Because when black and white are mixed, there is nothing but confusion, and from that comes pain. I cannot let that continue. I will not continue to let my friends suffer.

[messianic]

But humans are, by nature, neither black nor white. They can't be sorted that way.

Do you intend to simply get rid of them, merely because they aren't so clear-cut?

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

Get rid of them? No. To incite the human population to war...

[ N shakes his head. ]

That would cause more pain. I do not want that, even for people. No, I will separate people and Pokemon.

[messianic]

[...]

So you wish to separate grey from grey? N-kun, that won't make the world you're imagining.

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

No, no, you don't understand --

[ And it seems N really does want him to understand. As he speaks, he perhaps looks more like his future self than at any other point, a childish excitement bubbling over even if his words are more suited for a fanatic. ]

You see, if the Pokemon are free from humanity -- if they are no longer forced to battle, forced to work, are able to live freely -- then they can become the perfect beings they were meant to be.

[messianic]

...You're right.

I don't understand. And it sounds to me as though...you haven't tried to.

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

What do you mean?

[ N stops, cocking his head at Minato again. He twitches, blinks slowly, and then turns his head the other way. He is not used to people arguing with him. There is so much new to him, it is difficult to handle it or know how to respond. ]

[messianic]

[A quiet, quiet sigh.]

Why do Pokemon and humans live together?

[singularjustice.livejournal.com]

Because humans capture them in Pokeballs and use them.

[ He says it so plainly, so cleanly, as if he is reciting from a textbook. ]

[messianic]

[He pauses. That's...]

That is the only way humans and Pokemon ever grow to live together?