"You must see! This world requires change!"

People stopped and stared at N, where he stood atop the swaying grass of Accumula's town square. A real town, with buildings everywhere that stretched upward from the ground, people chatting and laughing in the paved streets between them. The palace would dwarf most of the structures, but even so, this was a place where real people lived. The smells of soil and fabric rose into the air, and no matter where in the town he had gone, always he heard the sound of conversation. N found himself loving it.

But one thing he did not like. A storm cloud that hung over the town. And that was the Pokemon forced to live here against their will. Accumula Town was a place for people, not for the poor creatures. He refused to believe they lived in harmony.

"The Pokemon," N continued, gesturing with his arms out before himself, inviting people to come and listen to his words. "Are suffering! You must open your eyes and be witness to this truth! I hear their voices, they cry to me and tell me of their troubles, yet we continue to constrain them in devices and work them until their bones can labor no longer! All because we are lazy!"

The wind whipped at N's hair, warming one side of his face. A small crowd of people gathered in front of him. He heard their mumbles and saw their faces furrowed in confusion, but he continued to go on. Often, the truth was hard to swallow.

"They are suffering," he said, softening his voice now that they had accumulated. "But I believe change can occur. I believe in the people. Pokemon deserve so much better than what we give them."

Beside him, Ghetsis frowned. N's heart tightened in his chest. Had he said something that his father didn't like?

He went on. "I ask you to consider my words, and then ask something of yourselves: is our relationship with Pokemon truly that at all, or is it merely a selfish use of their kind nature for our gain?"

N lowered his hands, as Ghetsis had told him to do, which would signal to the crowd that he had finished speaking. Some frowned, and yet others laughed as they departed away from him to continue their daily tasks.

N clenched his jaw, watching them go in frustration, but the feeling changed when he turned to speak to Ghetsis. What had N said wrong? Why didn't the people look like they were considering his words?

His father motioned to a nearby bench. N sat eagerly, feeling the solid wood press underneath his shoulder-blades. Ghetsis, with a flourish of his magnificent robe, sat beside him.

"Why didn't they listen to me, father?" N blurted out. "I appealed to their emotions."

"You did, my son," Ghetsis said, leaning forward. The edges of his lips turned slightly downward, not quite a frown, but in the way that happened whenever he was displeased. "But do not say you believe in humans. They are evil creatures. They can be made to see, my son, but you must not grow to believe they are good. Do you understand me?"

"I… I do, father."

He patted N's knee with his scarred hand, then leaned back in satisfaction. "Good. You listen to me, and the world will be a better place for it. My son, you must be the one to preach to the populace. You are the only one fit to do so. Your ability to speak to Pokemon is proof of that."

N shifted. "But they didn't seem to be listening to me, father. Please don't mistake me, I don't doubt your wisdom, but most of them simply laughed as if what I was saying was completely nonsensical."

"They gathered around you. That is enough, for now. You have planted the seed of doubt, and they will begin to talk."

N smiled, content with that. Ghetsis always knew what was best, and knew more than anyone how the world worked. N trusted his judgment completely.

One of the Seven Sages, who had been waiting nearby, removed from the speech, came to Ghetsis and whispered in his ear. N couldn't hear what they said, but he didn't have any desire to listen. His father's business was his own.

Ghetsis stood suddenly. When N moved to follow, he laid a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll be leaving for now," Ghetsis said. "Explore the town. See what humans are. I will come to get you later."

N opened his mouth to protest, but his father left with the Sages before he had a chance to speak to him. I may as well make the best of it. There is so much I've never seen before like a whole new world spread out before me.

He stepped down from the town square. Above, thin, wispy clouds trailed along the blue sky, pulled by the constant wind. He admired their beauty, common as clouds and blue skies might be.

He started down the narrow street, flanked on both sides by buildings. He wasn't alone, of course, not in a town; most people walked along the sidewalk with him, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and a car only passed now and again. Trees seemed to sprout wherever they were allowed purchase, their branches like fingers reaching up toward the sun.

The sound of a jingling bell pulled his attention to the side. It came from a pink-colored building next to the street, with round, umbrellaed tables out in front where people ate and drank, laughed and talked. The smell of pastries spilled out of the glass doorway. The tiny, golden bell attached to its rim sounded each time someone entered.

N found his legs moving in that direction, almost is if the enticing smells were a rope pulling them along. Accidentally, he bumped into someone near the doorway. N apologized first, then went inside.

A counter ran along the far wall, which a large man with hairy arms wiped down with a rag. Stools lined the other side, where people sat hunched over food and drink. To N's left, right below the windows, were caramel-colored tables and booths, sunlight splaying down atop them. Some sat there, as well. N wondered why someone would choose to sit at the counter when they could relax beside the windows, watching the sky and the town.

"Hey, kid, you gonna answer me?"

He blinked. The burly man behind the counter had stopped cleaning to look at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry," N said, "What did you say?"

"What'll it be?"

"What will what be?"

The man frowned. "Your order?"

Oh! He's asking me what I want to eat or drink. N searched the room with his eyes. How was he supposed to know the selection to choose from?

Trying not to upset the man behind the counter, he settled on something a woman was eating. It did look appetizing.

He pointed at her. "I'll have what she is having."

The man nodded. "Alright. You take a seat wherever you feel like, and I'll have someone bring it over for you."

As he spoke, N looked at him, trying to find the evil glare in his eyes that he knew would be there, but he saw nothing except kindness.

He glanced away, taking a seat by the window. Light washed over his face as he gazed out and watched the people pass.

Humans were evil. He knew that. As clear as day, he could remember a Serperior, cold and without life, being dragged before him. Ghetsis had said it had been abused and eventually killed by humans. But were humans all like that? His father and his sister, no, of course not, but they were the exception. Right?

N pursed his lips. Yes. Humans were evil. They had to be. His father had said that, after all, and so it had to be true.

A clattering sound announced his food's arrival. The waitress smiled, and he smiled in return before turning to what she had brought him.

A slice of creamy cake sat on one platter. N beamed. It looked delicious. The other item was a black, steaming liquid in a white cup. Its color reminded him of a night sky, and she'd also given him a small pitcher of milk and a metal spoon to go along with it. He didn't have any clue what it was or why there was milk, but everything smelled good all the same.

As he picked up his fork to cut into the cake, someone slid into the booth across from him. He paused with the fork in midair, looking up. It was the same person whose order he had copied, a petite woman with sun-kissed blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. She looked to be about his age.

"Oh," he said, "Hello."

She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I saw your speech outside. You want to free all Pokemon?"

"Pokemon are oppressed creatures!" He said. "They are hurting each day, and we are blind to their pain."

"Hey, I'm not saying you're wrong," she said, holding up her hands in a pacifying gesture. "I'm just curious. You think people will start to listen to you?"

"Of course," he nodded, taking a bit of his cake. A lemon flavor burst across his tongue. "This is good!"

The woman smiled, then leaned back. "I'm glad I could help you get something you enjoy."

"I apologize," he said, flushing. "I wasn't entirely sure what to order."

Again, she smiled. "My name's Luna. What's yours?"

"You can call me N."

"N, huh? Well, listen, N, you seem pretty dedicated to this cause of yours. Are you going to the Vertress City tournament?"

He froze. "The what?"

"Yeah. The government is sponsoring a tournament for novice trainers at the stadium there. You didn't know about it? I've heard of a lot of people are taking up Pokemon just to participate in it. There's a big cash prize at the end, they say."

"I must go!" He shouted, shooting to a stand. She peered up at him, raising an eyebrow, and many of the people in the building turned to look his way. "I must go. I must stop it from happening."

She shrugged. "Well, be my guest. Maybe I'll see you there."

"Yes, maybe," he said absently, "I must go inform my father."

"Hey! Where are you going? You've gotta pay for your food!"

The bell above the door jingled as he rushed out, ignoring Luna's shouts. He didn't know if there was a way to stop the tournament, but even if he could not, a large crowd would gather there. His father would know what to do. His father would know.