Again, N found himself in Castelia City, its black buildings rising from the earth like so many bony fingers. He did not want to be there and made it known to his father, but he proclaimed they had a rally to attend, and N could not convince him that they should go elsewhere.

He did not want to be there for more than the simple fact that he had begun to despise cities because of the awful memories that bubbled to the surface when he entered them. Memories of blood, of the popping blare of gunfire. Luna had said she'd forgiven him, and for a time, nightmares of Drayden's pale, lifeless body did not haunt him, but Luna was dead, and the happy memories he'd shared with her when there was no burden on his shoulders, seemed a fading dream. But, no, Drayden was not the only reason.

The city had also changed.

When N and Ghetsis were progressing past the tree-lined outskirts, the sound of cheering, coming in waves, growing louder as they came closer as if he heard the cities heartbeat, filled N's ears. He inquired to his father as to its source, but Ghetsis stated that he would see, and as they moved under the looming shadows of metal buildings, N did, and what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.

A crowd, more significant than any N had ever seen, gathered in the square of a street intersection. People moving in that direction were parking their cars on street sides, filing out of their vehicles. Not to scream for the people to move, but instead, many, if not all, joined the mob. They all faced in one direction, away from N and Ghetsis, listening to someone speak, though N could not make out the words.

He suddenly became self-conscious of the Pokeball hidden in his hat. This was the rally that his father wanted him to attend. This was the product of everything N had worked for since leaving the castle.

But it meant nothing now. It was not the world Luna would have wished.

Ghetsis' hand squeezed his shoulder. "Go, my son. Preach to them. Julia will be happy to have your aid."

Julia? She was one of those there when he killed Drayden. A boom of shouts erupted from the crowd, many raising their arms in triumph. "I cannot, father."

"What? What do you mean, you cannot?" Ghetsis barked. "I would think you would relish at the opportunity. Look! Look at what we have accomplished. You are still the face of Team Plasma, the face of this movement. You were the spark. Seeing you in person will make them more serious in their newfound beliefs than ever."

N looked at them all. This is not what Luna would have wanted. Pokemon… they love being with trainers. What have I done? "But… father, well, what if the police come? What if they find and capture me?"

Ghetsis scowled. "You have never worried about such things. Besides, they will not. I have had Team Plasma take care of them."

"Father…"

"Do you not trust your father anymore?" Ghetsis shouted. "I do not like this new rebellious side of you, my son! I do not like it at all. You will go up there, and you will show them your beliefs!"

N pursed his lips. Perhaps he would do it if only to assuage his father's anger. Why should he resist, anyway? Why should he resist anything?

"Alright, father."

Ghetsis snorted and nudged him.

He started forward, weaving his way through the crowd, smelling sweat, seeing smiles, and hearing cheers. At first, those around regarded him as they would any other, but then they began to notice his green hair. Gasps and shouts, even laughter, rippled through the crowd behind him. Some also touched him, as if he was famous. As if they had to be sure he was real.

Soon, as he reached the other end and nodded to a bewildered Julia, they were all cheering his name in unison. N! N! N! His exploits had spread his name far and wide after they had appeared on the news.

That filled him with incredible sadness. Each thing I did was out of ignorance. Humans don't oppress Pokemon; they are cared for and loved by almost all. I had not seen enough of the world to know that.

He quieted the people with a soothing gesture. They responded, and the cheers faded until each person waited on N's words with baited breaths.

He opened his mouth to speak. Any words he was going to say instantly died on his lips. He realized then that he could not do it. Genuinely lie to all of them? Keep going with a facade when he no longer believed what he was preaching?

Expectant eyes watched him. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. No. Doing so would be wrong. Would Luna have let someone else dictate the words that came out of her mouth? Never. Luna is dead, N.

Yes. She was. The thought still made his chest ache and beckoned tears to his eyes, but his love for her was not.

Julia poked him. He blinked, smiling at her, then began to address the crowd.

"I fear I must tell you all that I have made a grave mistake." He paused. A cacophony of confused murmurs reached his ears. "I have done many things in the pursuit of freeing Pokemon from the rule of humans. I believed in that so strongly, so absolutely, that it drove me to kill an innocent man. Yes, innocent! Did being a gym leader make Drayden evil? Was he any worse than any of you? Than myself? No! I ask you to reconsider everything Team Plasma has-"

A hand gripped him by the arm, yanking him to the side. Startled silence covered the crowd like a blanket, and they followed him with their eyes as Ghetsis pulled him into a side alley between two buildings.

N winced as his father slammed him against the wall, snarling, pinning him with his charred arm. N struggled, but he was not strong enough to release himself.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ghetsis roared. "What do you think you're doing? You'll ruin everything!"

N clawed at his father's arm, feeling the weight press on his throat, cutting off his breath. "Father… let go… of me!"

Ghetsis did. N fell to his knees, coughing and holding a hand to his throat.

"You'll never do that again, understand? Understand me?"

"Yes," N mumbled.

"What?" Ghetsis demanded.

"Yes!"

"Get up."

N wiped his mouth with his arm and pushed to his feet. He met his father's eyes with an even look.

"I should have never let you out of my sight, not for a single moment!" Ghetsis threw his hands up in frustration. "The world has done what I feared it would do. It has corrupted you, but understand that what you just did will never happen again. We're leaving, and when we arrive in Nimbasa City, you will comply with me, or there. Will. Be. Consequences."

Ghetsis turned on his heel, stomping away. N breathed a long, slow breath to calm himself, staring at his father's retreating form. He was not angry. He was not sad, not frustrated. He had done what he thought was right, and Ghetsis had responded accordingly.

N did ask himself, however, as he followed after his father, why he had always been so obedient and devoted.