The White, the Black, and…

Days passed on and on like a silent movie. Those days turned into weeks. And those weeks turned into a month. One month since that faithful day Natural wandered out of his room. He barely spoke. He barely ate. He kept thinking about White, Black, and Grey. What was Grey? But more importantly, what was he?

Throughout this month of silence, Natural had ceased most, if not, all of his playtime, including tapping on the mysterious window in the front of his room. Behind this window, sat four important men, watching with eager, but disappointed faces. One was Ghetsis. Another was his fellow companion, a sage named Rood. He wore a burgundy gown and a tall, burgundy hat on his head. He had a long, white, handlebar moustache that could easily draw the attention away from his words. The other two men were dressed in white robes with their hoods over their heads. They too, like the other man, had a big P on the front of their robe.

They all sat around the window, as if they were observing Natural. An ominous silence befell the four men as they watched Natural sit at the top of his skateboard ramp with a box of crackers. They could see his eyes had a grey hue to them now, as if there weren't much left in there.

"Natural has been very quiet these past few weeks…" Rood finally spoke up. He ran his fingers down his moustache and sighed disdainfully.

"It's because of what he saw when he walked out into the real world. If he hadn't have gotten out, none of this would have happened" one of the men dressed in white said.

"It's a shame he had to witness it at such an age too… No ten year-old should ever have to witness that" the other man dressed in white said as he hung his head in between his knees and sighed.

"Now Little Harmonia probably sees the world as a cold, dark place where Pokémon are treated unfairly…" Rood said as pulled out a lit cigar and began huffing on it.

"Well, given the doctrine of Team Plasma, that's probably a good thing…" A man in white smirked. "We could use him for our plans."

Rood turned his attention to Ghetsis who sat back in his chair sipping on a cup of coffee. "My Lord, you've been very quiet… What seems to be troubling you?"

Ghetsis sat his coffee down under his chair and stood up. He walked slowly towards a closet and knelt down. When he stood back up, he had a little purple fur ball in his hands. Rood jumped out of his seat and quivered.

"M- My Lord! What are you doi-"

"Just watch… If it's true that Natural can hear the voice of Pokémon, he should be able to hear this Purrloin…" Ghetsis whispered as he opened the door to Natural's room and set the little fur ball on the ground.

. . .

Natural looked over and saw the door close. He cocked his head at the purple fur ball and looked at it.

"Is that a Pokémon…?" He wondered. He jumped off his skateboard ramp and walked over to it. He picked it up and held it carefully. "Hi there… I'm Natural, what's your name?"

Suddenly the Pokémon hissed and began brutally clawing him in the face like a ragdoll. Natural screamed in pain and dropped the Pokémon on the floor as it ran to a corner. It extended one of its claws and held it up to its neck.

"I HATE EVERYTHING!"

. . .

Flashback #1 (From Purrloin's P.O.V.)

Almost my entire life, I was super happy with my trainer. We always went on adventures. We conquered almost all of the regions together, but Unova was our downfall… We ran into a new rival. He was cold, ruthless, and mean. I used to always see my trainer as my best friend… But as our journey through Unova went on, he barely even knew I existed. I was his best friend…

. . .

"I HATE EVERYTHING!"

. . .

Flashback #2 (From Purrloin's P.O.V.)

I remember it exactly when it happened… The day my trainer "lost" me. But he didn't really lose me; he just abandoned me in some Pokémon Center in Driftveil City. He told everyone that he "Just couldn't find him!" I was his best friend for twelve years and this is how he repays me? I tried to go out and find him… There were so many wild Pokémon though… I was always defeated before I could get to the next town.

. . .

"I HATE EVERYTHING!"

. . .

Flashback #3 (From Purrloin's P.O.V.)

I finally made it to Icirrus City after a day or two, and there I saw him… My trainer. I was so happy to see him, but he wouldn't even give me the time of day. Like I was trash… A complete and utter waste of a Pokémon…

But then this other trainer caught me… He was a very fast and speedy boy. We made it to Victory Road. I escaped from him. I waited. I waited weeks. I waited for my real trainer.

. . .

"I. HATE. Myself…"

. . .

Flashback #4 (From Purrloin's P.O.V.)

I knew he would come, just as I had planned. Finally, I can end this. I can make amends. But when I saw him, I just got so angry… I charged at him and got him in the throat with my claws. But something didn't feel right… I didn't feel happy… I saw this crimson colored stuff pour from his neck as he had fallen to the ground. I went over and shook him, but he wouldn't move… No matter how hard I shook… No matter how hard I clawed at him… He JUST WOULDN'T MOVE.

. . .

Natural watched in horror as Purrloin's claw skid across its neck, spilling a red crimson colored liquid onto the floor. Purrloin fell over in a crumpled heap, unresponsive. Natural screamed and Ghetsis came charging in his room and ran over to the Purrloin.

Natural blacked out.

. . .

Still, more weeks passed, but Natural was even quieter than before. He ate less and less. He slept horribly every night.

One evening, Natural sat up at the top of his skateboard ramp in the fetal position. He had been crying the whole day. He was pale, and he smelt of unwashed clothes.

Outside the window, Ghetsis and Rood stood looking at Natural.

"My Lord, the child has been through enough… Please, don't do this again." Rood pleaded.

"Second time is the charm, my fellow sage." Ghetsis opened the door to his room and sat down a black fur ball.

Natural looked over and quivered at the sight of it. His fingernails dug into the wood and his teeth clenched on his tongue.

Suddenly, the black fur ball began to move. It was again, another Pokémon. Hadn't he been through enough for one lifetime?

But this Pokémon seemed different. It certainly looked less violent with a beautiful black ruff-collar. He watched as the little Pokémon explored the room, sniffing things and poking them with its red-tipped paw.

"H- Hi…" Natural finally said, breaking the silence. He gulped, thinking it was a mistake. The little Pokémon jumped and looked up at him. "N- No, no! Please, don't be scared!" He leaned over and grabbed a piece of a cracker from the box and held it over the edge of the ramp. "D- Do you want one…? They're really good…"

The little Pokémon whimpered and slowly trudged over to the ramp. It looked up the stairs and whimpered louder as it sat down like it gave up.

"Hey, why'd you stop? Come on… You were so close! It's just stairs…" But Natural saw how weakly the Pokémon walked. It looked like it had been abused. The Pokémon looked up at him disdainfully. "Come on, you can do it!" Natural said as he waved the cracker around, but the Pokémon still didn't move.

"If you don't come up here… I'm gonna eat it!" Natural smiled and held the cracker over his mouth. Suddenly, the little Pokémon got up and started walking up the stairs at a turtle's pace, wincing and whimpering with every step.

"You're almost here! Come on, you can do it! I believe in you!" Natural smiled as he started waving the cracker around again.

The Pokémon stopped halfway up and laid down.

"I can't do it, I just can't do it!" The Pokémon said over and over again.

"Come on, you can do it! Believe in yourself, just like how I believe in you! Look past the black and white of yourself and into the grey!" Natural reached his hand down with the cracker in it and the Pokémon looked at it.

"It's useless… I can't do it…" The Pokémon said as it started climbing the steps again.

With each step conquered, Natural kept cheering and egging the Pokémon on.

But then, something amazing happened… The Pokémon made it up the stairs! Natural cheered for it and fed it the cracker.

"I knew you could do it!"

The Pokémon smiled weakly at him.

"You look hungry…" Natural pulled the box of crackers over to him and dumped them all out onto the ramp. The Pokémon sat there and looked at them. "Well? Go on, eat!" Natural smiled.

The little Pokémon slowly began eating them. It seemed a little happier. "Zorua. That's my name… What's yours?"

"My name? It's Natural Harmonia Gropius… But you can just call me Natural."

"Can I call you N for short? Because that's a mouthful…" Zorua laughed.

"That's fine by me!" Natural smiled.

"So you can actually hear me?" Zorua asked.

"Well if I couldn't, I wouldn't be talking to you, now would I? Natural laughed.

"That's true…"

"So what's it like out there?"

"Out where?"

"In the outside world!"

Zorua chuckled. "It's an awesome place out there! There's a lot of nice people and Pokémon and the food is pretty darn great if I say so myself." Zorua smiled.

But that can't be right… That can't be the world Natural saw.

"Hey, look, Zorua. Are you sure that's what the world is like?" Natural scratched his head.

"Pretty sure. For the most part, everyone's nice. But there are some mean, cruel people that hurt others and Pokémon…"

"Is that what happened to you…?" Natural looked at Zorua with serious eyes.

Zorua looked down and sighed. "That's a story to be saved for another day…"

Natural laid on his back and looked up at the ceiling. "So the world… There's good people in it?"

Zorua nodded his head. "There's a ton of good people in it!"

Natural rolled over and looked down at his chalkboard. His notes were still on there.

"Hey, Zorua. Take a look down there for me. See that chalkboard? I want you to read it."

Zorua looked at the chalkboard and began reading it aloud.

"'The world is separated into two different colors; Black and White.

Black, a world where humans do not need Pokémon in any way, shape, or form. A world where Pokémon would be better off non-existent. Humans could finally live their life to the fullest without having to deal with such annoyances that Pokémon would create. Only after this action takes place, would achieve their perfect forme without the help of Pokémon.

White, a world where Pokémon do not need humans in any way, shape, or form. Pokémon can grow freely in the wild without humans ordering them around and restricting what they do, forcing them do such awful things and treating them horribly. Only after this, would Pokémon achieve their perfect forme without help from humans.

But I am not human. I am a monster. I am a freak. I am a cancer to this society. Or maybe, I am the ultimate solution. For now, I have set myself as Grey, which is undefined. I must achieve answers. I must achieve perfection. I MUST SEE THE WORLD FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS.

I must figure out what Grey is.

I need answers.

And I will not be getting them in this room…' "

"Zorua, if what you say is true… Then I need to see this for myself. I need your help." Natural picked up Zorua and held him close.

"Then let's bust out of here!"