Life is a series of equations. Numbers and formulas construction as much from years of planning as much as happenstance. Some can call it fate, and others call it random. Arceus knows which is actually true. Sometimes, a single thing can happen and lead you into rethinking everything you previously knew about those aspects.
Fate. Randomness. Life.
If life is but numbers and formulas, then what can it possibly equal to? Is it all merely planned out, a set amount,, or is it a variable? His own life had been set. Ghetsis had planned and formed everything, and yet one variable was enough to change it all.
A wise creature once said that 'The circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are'.
N wanted to do just that.
But who was he? He was a king. He had a goal to follow. But like his kingdom, like his own circumstance, it was fabrication. A lie. A tool meant for someone else to have a raise of power. Now that N saw the truth, what was he? What was his goal to strive for? It's not that he was ungrateful. He is truly grateful for so much.
After the battle with Hilda, after seeing that his ideals were not enough, after hearing Ghetsis's true motives. It all felt like his world was crumbling. That everything made less sense. He tried to push the existential dread away. Focus on anything else.
His sisters.
With the help of Alder and a boy named Cheren, one of Hilda's friends, he was able to make sure his sisters were safe and that each of the Shadow Triad that were sent for them were defeated. It was not an easy battle, but it was accomplished.
Yes, things became complicated quite quickly after.
Gym Leaders.
They wanted to put a stop to Team Plasma and heard he was the apparent their king as members have said. N was almost certain he would need to battle them, but before they tried to apprehend him, Alder again proved to be helpful. The champion settled their want of 'bringing the evil king to justice'. Especially when he explained to them that Hilda was facing N's father and it was possibly them causing the castle to shake so much.
When they had all entered the throne room, no one was prepared for the state it was in. The battle had been felt throughout the entire castle more than once, but no one expected the damage to be as bad as it was. Three floors worth of stonework were rumble. The mark of an epic battle was everywhere you could see.
Laying among it, surrounded by her fainted team, was Hilda. The girl was unconscious and looked harmed. N was sure they wanted to rush to her to bring her aid. But they were all frozen stiff. Even he was still at the sight.
They were met with Zekrom standing guard. Teeth stained red with human blood.
It laughed when he arrived. Said N missed out on a 'fun time'. He didn't believe the Legendary. Nothing fun happened in that room.
They had to rush Hilda to a hospital and her Pokémon to a Center as quickly as possible.
The first few days held a lot of shock for many across the region. In a matter of hours, several headline worthy stories went on. Several people had challenged the Pokémon League, a castle rising out of the ground, Team Plasma outed for their terrible treatment of Pokémon, Team Plasma officially disbanding, Two Legendary Pokémon, a mysterious young Trainer all being a part of it all.
N was not envious of any of the reporters who were trying to make sense of things. But he had his own worries, or rather responsibilities, to attend to. The first of these were Pokémon. Not just his own, but also Hilda's.
While she was unconscious, he saw to her Pokémon. Making sure that they were cared for and listened to while in the care of the center. He also did it so they could tell him exactly what happened in the last battle they were in. Needless to say, he was not happy with the details of what Zekrom called a 'fun time'.
Still, N was amazed by Hilda's actions; he was horrified by Ghetsis's. The man he once called his father. Even now, N has a hard time accepting it. That the training and lessons were all just so that he could be manipulated. A fake leader of an organization that only sought to use Pokémon.
Sounds like a nightmare made all too real.
Ghetsis was gone. Missing.
Tried as they could to investigate, no one was sure where he went. They found his Pokémon, but the man himself was missing after the battle. Only Zekrom itself gave a hint of what happened. Though N would rather not translate exactly the amount of detail the Dragon would like to give. Ghetsis was hurt. Badly. But like the Ekans he was, he slithered away. Helped by his Shadow Triad once more to parts only known to them.
N tried to help, to be as cooperative as he can be. Thankfully, a member of the International Police, a man named Looker, was more than willing to listen to his side of the story. Together, the two of them had dug up a lot of Team Plasma. Along with many things that even N wasn't aware of within his own organization.
Illegal trading, false charities, Pokémon mutilation to sell their body parts off, and even illegal Pokémon experimentation. All just one of the many things going on behind his back. Things that N was either blind to or just turned a blind eye to without even realizing it.
There were still many things he and Looker couldn't find out about. Like the Genesect project or talk of some kind of weapon. But by then, the officer had told him that he did enough. If N wanted to put aside all that happened, he would need to leave it to the professionals.
For now.
While intentionally N wanted to decline, he knew he had to play nice. Not for his own sake but for the sake of his sisters. The girls were placed within protective custody while the investigation went on, but soon, it was to be lifted. N needed to make sure they were cared for, and he admittedly no longer had the bottomless funds of Team Plasma to help him with that.
N was forced to battle to earn a living. It was humbling, to say the least. But through it all, he did get a better understanding of how Trainers are and the bond they share with their Pokémon. He has his Zoroark to truly thank for each victory he earned. The one Pokémon he kept at his side throughout all these years. His friend.
He did not waste Reshiram with such things. He told the dragon he wouldn't hold it captive and allow it to roam. Or rather, allow it to keep an eye on its other half. As the black dragon did nothing but wait for Hilda to wake up fully. As during all this time she had been in the hospital.
When she first awoke, it was only for a few moments. Just in time to see everyone there that can be. Since then, she would periodically wake up and fall unconscious over and over again. The doctors continue to tell him it is due only to pure exhaustion on her part and possibly lead from an overabundance of stress.
Knowing how much she had gone through in a single day, N could believe that. Still, he made sure to make many visits for her and to be by her side as much as possible. Even as the many days of treatment passed with physical therapy and even surgery being brought up as a possibility for some of her injuries. During that time, he met the people of her life, or rather got to know them better.
Bicane and Cheren were protective of her at first. He was actually punched in the face by the girl when he explained to her who he truly was. She had a surprisingly good left hook. But they did come to welcome him after he had apologized. Cheren was supposedly Hilda's rival throughout her journey. The one a step behind herself. Though Hilda joked that N stole that role by being way more annoying than he ever could be.
"I wasn't annoying."
"You were so annoying. Cheren didn't leave me a headache before and during each match. He only does that by being a nerd and lecturing me on stuff…oh hey, you two have that in common!"
It had even become a thing when Cheren had asked if they could battle. While hesitant, N did accept. It was an easy battle, one that he won without much trouble, much to Cheren's disappointment. Though the younger Trainer did pay him a nice compliment. Claiming that it felt like he was battling against Hilda once more.
Though with much less of having to deal with a sore-winner.
A few times playing games with the group, N learned exactly what he meant. Hilda was still very competitive about winning even outside of battle. He was referred to as a cunt at least 13 times without fail after playing a plus-4 on Hilda for the 3rd time in a row.
Speaking of important relationships, there was that of himself and Hilda's Pokémon. Being their caretaker was not easy. Not only because they were very restless with worry about their Trainer but also with them being very cautious of him.
Especially the Emboar…
Especially Porkchop, as he refused to be called anything other than his name.
They all much prefer it if he called them by their nickname. N had asked them about it, even tried to explain how childish some of their names were. Even to Zekrom. But they refused to hear it. They loved their names. Even Zekky did. N just thought of it as another lesson for him to learn in the future.
It truly was a pleasant sight though when he took them all to see Hilda. The Pokémon were happy, very happy to see their Trainer. And the feeling was mutual. He stood at the door and watched as Hilda and her team would share in a hug. How she would thank each one of them, and speak to them about what they did in the battle at the Pokémon League.
He had explained to her that he and his sisters were watching over them as best they could. And for once he was put to a lecture by Hilda when he explained how he wasn't allowing them to battle as even they were still recovering. He tried to make his stance on it. To provide his argument.
But she would have none of it.
Hilda even challenged him on the spot for a match, right there in her hospital room. He declined, but she refused.
"You can't decline! You're now officially a Trainer, right?"
"...I did get my license to prove it. Even if it is a GED."
"Well, I am still a Trainer, and our eyes have locked! Therefore, we need to battle!"
"Why is that a rule? And why is it so specific? I've literally had to learn how to sneak by people so they would stop challenging me each time I accidentally looked in their direction."
"Rules are rules, battle me!"
"...are you still mad I beat you in Poké-uno?"
"Porkchop, give him a swirly."
Thankfully he was able to talk her down. Only because it wouldn't be fair with her and her team recovering. Though that did lead to Hilda saying that with her at a disadvantage it was the fairest it could be as she brought up how she never lost a Pokémon match before. Which led to him bringing up the Poké-uno and that became an entire thing.
Still, it was fun.
She gave him a lot of stories about herself and her team. Through their journey and through their many encounters. Like Hilda talking about the story of how she saved Porkchop, back when he was a Tepig. Even though he heard the story before from the Pokémon itself, it was a wonder to hear it again. Or to hear other stories like it. Some not as flattery.
"You accidentally stepped on a wild Cubchoo? Why? Just…why?"
"It was an honest to the Helix accident! And boy, was the mom not happy I did that."
"Please do not tell me you have a history of getting physical with Pokémon."
"Define physical, cause I once nearly got death rolled by a Krookodile after I fell into some quicksand."
"Death what?"
"Then again there was this other time with a Lickitung, that got out of hand-"
"Hold on, you can't just walk by that. What is a death roll?"
"Oh, when a Krookodile chomps down on your arm or leg and then proceeds to try and roll their entire body to tear off your limb. Their jaws are super strong, so once they get a good grip there is like no hope in getting out of it."
"..."
"Yeah, I tried to catch it, but damn was it being annoying and not staying in any of the Pokéballs I threw."
It came to his attention that Hilda might be a tad-suicidal, or that she really needed better supervision in keeping herself safe. Most likely it is the latter, as the girl can be very much stubborn. Way too much for her own good.
But he soon learned where she had gotten that from.
Of all the people he had met it was Hilda's mother that was the most insightful. The woman was like her daughter in a lot of ways. Both could be loud, both seem to enjoy making arguments, and both are very caring and thoughtful people. He saw it firsthand when the woman would constantly make sure her daughter was taken care of, talking to the doctors and making sure that Hilda was eating properly.
Speaking to her, N wasn't even sure where to start. He accidentally began by thanking her for raising such a wonderful daughter. One that he was lucky to have met and was even more lucky in that she wanted to call him a friend. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to say but Hilda's face turning a shade of red and throwing a pillow at him hinted it probably wasn't his best foot forward.
Still the woman was polite. There was such an air around her, that she knew how to talk to others and knew just what it was to make someone squirm. It was the first time N had seen Hilda become so flustered when her mother would tell embarrassing stories of Hilda when she was younger.
N couldn't even help himself but laugh when Hilda screamed in terror when the woman showed him a picture of Hilda in an old Halloween costume, when she went as a Slowpoke. Though this did open a door that N did want to peek behind. It was when visitation hours were over, and N was told to leave by the staff that he had time to ask Hilda's mother for a private talk. They did so outside the hospital.
"So, what is it?"
"I wanted to ask about Hilda's father."
It took a turn. Almost immediately the woman's attitude changed. But she did tell him about the man. That he was sick as a young boy, that she met him when she was around Hilda's age. She fell for the fame and mystery that surrounded him. But then as time went on he began to get worse with his condition.
"Hilda told me he is in a mental hospital in Kanto."
"Yeah. He was living up in the mountains and nearly froze to death up there. I still can't help but check on him every few months. Besides me and Hilda, all he has is his mother. That woman is still too kind, still calls Hilda for happy birthdays and other stuff."
"I am so sorry I brought it up, I just needed to know more after Hilda told me. I just didn't…I should have been more tactful. Or asked at a different time."
"Hey, it's okay. Though I am shocked you know about it. I mean, usually when people ask, Hilda would say he married a Gardeivor or something. How do you know about him?"
It seemed that no one exactly told Hilda's mother who he was. Or rather also what he was. That was not a fun explanation to have. But the woman was surprisingly open with a lot of what he had to say. Even about his own issues with his father being brought up.
She listened to him, and only ever stopped to ask him questions when she needed more details. All she knew about Team Plasma was what she saw on the news and the little that was asked to her when the International Police were questioning everyone. Learning that he was the supposed King of Team Plasma was a bit of a shock.
"I just thought you were someone that Hilda made friends with. I didn't have a clue you were tied up with all that stuff."
"That must have been my fault, I should have explained properly when we met. It was just with all that was happening with myself and Hilda's condition I didn't even think to explain. I am so sorry to suddenly drop this on you."
"It's fine. Really. Though it does make sense. When I would call Hilda, sometimes she would mention you. A guy that was driving her up a wall because of how annoying he was. I thought you would be like a Gym Leader or something."
"Sadly no, that would make things less complicated. Still, despite it all, I am happy that things turned out how they did. That I lost to her, and she proved to be better than me. Much as she would like to gloat about it."
"Heh. That she does like to do. Always gotta be a winner that one…say, let me ask. What would have happened if she lost in that big showdown of yours?"
"I wouldn't have hurt her. I promise you."
"Of course not. You baby that girl more than I do. I can't say much about your old man, adopted or not, thank the Helix that he fucked up in raising you and those sisters of yours. I am so glad none of you turned out as he did."
"That, I can agree with. I am sure even if I had won, Hilda would have had me turn Team Plasma around. She would have had me see exactly what kind of person Ghetsis was without him having to reveal himself. The only difference would be I would have asked her to be my queen."
"...what?"
"I wanted to ask for Hilda's hand in marriage. Throughout our encounters, I started to see her as more than some Trainer, more than some rival. I saw her as an equal in ways I never felt before. I wanted her by my side. I wanted her to see things as I saw it so that together we could-"
"You were going to ask my daughter to marry you?"
"Eh, yes."
"Like full on marriage?"
"Yes."
"Like popping out kids one day. That kind of marriage?"
"I mean, I suppose that would have happened one day. I did plan to kiss her for the ceremony. But it would be sort of crude to think that far ahead without at least speaking to her about it."
"...N, how old are you again?"
Things got complicated after that.
She was rather less kind to him about his relationship with Hilda afterwards. As Hilda was still relatively young, being that the girl was 15 years old, having very recently had a birthday. And N was…not.
Of course, he was more than aware of the age difference between the two of them. Hilda's age was one of the first things Team Plasma had informed him about the girl, as she started her Pokémon journey very recently, so of course she was still young. There were a lot of things about relationships he was still learning about. Such as what people considered Taboo.
He still remembered the grim stare Looker gave him when he told him how Ghetsis had attempted to have him marry his sisters. It was a fair thing he supposed. He hadn't exactly talked to Hilda about it. He hadn't even brought it up to her sense she…hinted at her feelings towards him before their battle.
That she apparently shared her mother's affection for, and N would quote her on this, 'stubborn, hat-wearing morons with odd names'.
Well, he does still wear his cap on his head. He very much was too stubborn for his own good throughout their journey. And it was very much clear to him whenever he needed to sign his legal name for something that 'Natural Harmonia Gropius' was not a name that would be described as common.
He didn't want to cause Hilda problems. Not after everything happened, but if they felt the same for each other why should they allow a few years of age to separate that. Right?
Though…
Maybe he just misunderstood her. Hilda did have an idea that he wanted to marry her, thanks in part to his sisters, but he never truly asked her what she thought of it. Would she marry him if asked at all? Would she see the similar issue of their age-difference?
They didn't at all have time to talk about it. They immediately went to speak of his issues. The thought of leaving such a thing hanging in the air…
N wanted to slam his head against a tree at the thought. How could he be so careless to not consider it. To simply not even ask a question, when he dared to have thoughts of Hilda and himself together. What? Was he to force her? Was it just a political marriage?
No. By Arceus, no! By even the Helix, whatever nonsense that was, no!
He did want to marry Hilda because he wanted her. He needed her. Someone to balance him. Someone that truly understood him. When there is a King, there is a Queen. When there is Black, there is White. He was willing, more than willing to forsake everything he could. To compromise Team Plasma if it was truly them together.
And never once did he think to tell her this?!
It was enough to make him ask himself out loud. "Am I a fucking idiot?"
It would have been smart to wait. It would have been easier if he had smooth things over with Hilda's mother first before going. He did neither. What he did do was talk to his Zoroark, asking it about its sneaking abilities. The Dark-Type told him it was a bad idea. A very bad idea.
N considered it, but he also considered it that if there was one thing that seemed to always work out in Hilda's favor…it was bad ideas. Perhaps he should try some.
"Meeeear-boom! And then he stuck the landing!" Hilda calls out, happily giggling as she lands the Zekrom plush on the floor before her, landing on the plushie of the Hydreigon. Getting some much needed aggression out as she repeats the action.
"Hey, you aren't supposed to go that hard!" Whined a voice. "You'll hurt one of them."
"Oh come on, it totally deserves it. It's evil!"
"Pokémon aren't evil."
Hilda held the plushie to her companion, the Hydreigon pressing into his young face while she was putting on a silly voice. "Bah, look at me! I am totally evil, nom-nom-nom-nom-nom!" Her smile widened as she could hear the boy trying to hold back a laugh.
"Stop it!"
"Never!" She calls out in victory, making the young boy squirm more as she continues to play pretend with him. She liked to see him happy, the boy deserved it. He didn't ask for anything to have happened to him. He was only doing what he was raised for. Who can blame him for being angry at the world, at how things were for people and Pokémon. She wasn't blind to stuff. She knows there were some horrible people out there that only saw Pokémon as things to be used.
Her eyes look at the TV in the room. A tool used for the boy's lessons as he would watch, would learn of the outside world. Only seeing the awful side of things. The Pokémon Nuzlocke battles, videos of people hurting pets for fun, harsh abuse of slaughter homes. This kinda stuff was awful enough to see for normal people.
Imagine being able to hear the Pokémon speak as it happens to them.
She shuddered, distracting her enough that she didn't see the boy making a grab at the plushie he had set down earlier. The Reshiram comes up and this time it is pressed against her face. "Uh, nom?" He says, with Hilda slowly turning her eyes to him…before suddenly dramatically falling backwards.
"Ah! I am beaten, eaten by the elegant Reshiram and his pretty boy wielder, Natural." She calls out using an over dramatic voice as she pretends to be dying as she acts out like a bad performer. "Oh, the king is so cruel to hurt a beautiful pure maiden like I. Oh the pain, the pain."
The young N looked at her with a deadpan expression on his face. Knowing just how much that Hilda likes to act out, it would seem. His focus was more so to the plushie in his hands, looking at the white dragon blue buttons for eyes.
Being quick to notice she wasn't being humored, Hilda picked herself back up and crawled to sit by the boy. "Hey, what is eating you?" She asked, nudging him with her elbow.
"Do you think-" He pauses, hesitating as he holds the Reshiram plush to his chest. "Do you think that one day there isn't gonna be any more hurting? For the Pokémon?" He was genuinely asking it would seem. Hilda couldn't be too sure. Always she picked her words carefully around him.
"I am sorry but, no. Things are complicated, and it's never that black and white. I mean, what about Pokémon hurting each other, or us getting food, or-" Hilda stops as she sees the crestfallen look on the boy's face. "Hey, I get it. It sucks. But there is only so much we can do."
Placing an arm around his shoulder,she pulls the young boy closer to herself. "But hey, if we keep trying, maybe we can do good work. That's what matters." Natural looks up to her, his face still unsure. "Come on, Natural listen to her." She spoke, using a silly voice that she imagined the real Zekrom would sound like. "She's a smart girl, and super pretty. So you have to listen to her."
The boy snickered as the plushie of Zekrom moved before his face. He holds up the Reshiram, and is about to make a response. But then they were interrupted. The door to the room opens. A song from an abused music box begins to play. A sorrowful melody of a sad king.
The young N was no longer in her arms.
He wasn't far.
The boy was sitting in the room still. He was on his knees, in a full panic as he was working with what little tools he had. He was trying to help an Eevee to treat the injuries the small Pokémon had. Around him were other Pokémon also hurt in some way. Some are more hurt than others. Injuries ranging from burns to broken bones. It was a horrible sight.
But the sound was so much worse. They were begging, screaming in pain, pleading. Not with meows or howls, but with words. They were calling out for help, they were afraid, they were dying. And the only one that was there to help them, that was there to comfort, to try to treat them was a boy that barely even knew what he was doing.
She wanted to tell him this wasn't his fault. She wanted to tell him the truth of who really hurt these friends of his. But she doesn't. She can feel herself on the floor. Could feel her bones broken, could feel her skin burning, could feel her stomach boiling. She was feeling each thing those Pokémon felt in that room. Experiencing the exact feeling. She was dying on the floor among the other Pokémon. And yet all she could focus on was the young N.
Could watch as he was in pure horror. It wasn't fair. He didn't ask for this. No one would. It was nothing but an awful experience, it was a way to torture someone, to force them into a certain way of thinking that only a mad man would possibly think of.
Hate. Oh, did she hate that mad man. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate!
The experience comes quickly and leaves just as quickly. Her eyes open and she is no longer in the room. Instead she was laying in bed, back in the hospital. Waking up from the dream she's had repeatedly. Playing with a young N, and then turning to a nightmare. Recurring each time she fell asleep.
It was a cost of a few hours of sleep. Even after she tells the doctors and they attempt to give her treatments in the form of sleeping pills, it did little to help. Talking about it being some form of Post-traumatic stress disorder and could only be worked through as she lives her life to seek therapy for by professions. Which was something Hilda was really not looking forward to. Especially when they brought up how mental illness is tied to her family thanks to her father.
She wanted to yell at them for that but she settled down. It was only a few more days. From there she could figure out whatever her issues were. She'll probably be better off feeling the wind in her hair and really stretching her legs out or going on a bike ride.
After getting a new bike of course. Last one was broken as she stomped on it over Ghetsis. Worth it. Then she can take her Pokémon and really treat them as thanks for all they did. She owns them much more than little snacks or petting. And after that it was back to training as they are…
…are…
"Huh…what is there left to do?" Hilda wondered out loud. She had beaten the Gym Leaders, beaten the Elite Four, beaten Team Plasma, and hell, even beaten Ghetsis. In a fight. Not a battle, a raw fight. There was nothing left.
Hilda was never much clear on her goals. She only became a trainer because her dad was one and both her friends wanted to be trainers too. The whole point was to win. But as soon as the journey started that had changed. It wasn't about being the best like no one ever was anymore. It became about just beating one person.
N.
And she did it. He's now gotten his head clear and is doing a lot of good things. Helping the police, being a normal Trainer, his sisters getting work at the Pokémon daycare. Himself meeting and hanging out with her friends and family.
She was his friend. And she helped him. For months it was all she wanted, just to do that…
Now that she has done it, what else is there? Go back to school? Continue to be a Pokémon Trainer? Bragg about how she has a Legendary Dragon? Right, there were still those interviews she was dealing with. And also that N apparently helped fend off people that tried to steal Zekky from her.
Bastards.
N should have let Zekky blast them.
Speaking of. There was something else she hadn't really considered about her and him. Something that she has been putting off talking about as really it would be a little awkward.
…is she the Pokémon Champion now?
She did beat the Elite Four. She didn't battle Alder but she did beat the person that had beaten Alder so that has to count, right? She is the champion, right?
"I mean I helped stop Ghetsis so that has to count also." She wondered out loud before sighing as she turned to her side to look out the window.
And sees N gripping onto the window and struggling to pull himself up. "What the fu-" Hilda pulled herself quickly to a sitting position, right as N managed to shove the window open and flop himself into the room. Quickly gasping to catch his breath.
"Why did we need to do this this way? My plan of sneaking in would have been much easier." N's Zoroark crawls in right after him. The Pokémon seemingly rolled its eyes at its Trainer. Growling something at him that only he would be able to understand. "No, pretending to be a doctor would have been a great plan! You just needed to listen to me." Another set of growls. "I don't just run my mouth with nonsense! I-"
N stops as his Zoroark points to Hilda, and N realizes he was making an ass of himself. Quickly standing up and recomposing himself, he offered a small "Hi" in greeting her.
"Natural? What are you doing here? It's like…" Hilda pauses to look at the nearby room clock. "It's 2 A.M. What gives?" She watches the Zoroark give a dismissive wave of its paw as it goes to her door. Giving a grunt as it held up a wallet in its other paw.
"Fine. You may raid the snack machine, but don't just buy junk food. I am positive there are healthier options." Hilda slapped her hands over her own mouth to keep from laughing, as it was the first time she ever saw a Zoroark flip the middle claw at someone as it leaves a room.
N took a deep sigh, and moved to take one of the chairs in the room and move it towards Hilda's bed. "I am sorry for visiting you so late. But I had decided I really needed to see you." She must have looked worried because quite quickly he changed his tone. "It isn't something too serious. I mean by all rights, I should have waited till the next morning but…I wanted to see you. I need to speak to you about this. About us. We need to talk."
Hilda widens her eyes at those words. "Are we breaking up?"
"What?"
"I don't know, people only say that when they are breaking up. Or something horrible is gonna happen." Hilda leans back into her bed and holds her hands over her eyes. "Oh crap. Just hit me with the bad news already…you need to leave right. Go off somewhere where I would probably never see you again, that's it right?" She groans.
N seemed to narrow his eyes at her words. "And where exactly could I go so that you wouldn't follow me? You do have Zekrom. Traveling around the world would be easy."
"No but like, that would be the tragic part of it. I might never be able to find you again!"
"...I am not going anywhere, Hilda. Not if I can help it. Much as it feels odd to say, I've grown accustomed to my new life. Being a true Trainer and a proper older brother to my sisters." He smiles as she pulls one of her hands away from her eyes to look at him. "I also wouldn't want to be away from you."
She quickly covers her face again, hiding her face turning a shade of red. "Why do you gotta make me worry then! I just had a nightmare, I don't need more stuff making me worry."
"You had a nightmare?" Hilda curses under her breath. "Was it about Ghesis?" Hilda sighs, and fully pulls her hands away from her face. She chooses to just stare at the ceiling while crossing her arms. N could see she was trying to figure out the right words to say.
But in the usual Hilda fashion, she just said the words before she could finish thinking them. "I had a nightmare about a little version of you." Hilda could see him raise an eyebrow at her. And asked her to elaborate. And asking if she suffered from Microphobia, a fear of small things."No. What am I, an elephant?!"
N stared blankly at that. Before he could ask what an Elephant was, Hilda held a hand over his mouth. "It's a Kanto thing, nevermind it." She then pulls her hand away, letting it flop onto the bed. Figuring she should just explain it.
"I had a nightmare about you as a little kid. We were playing together, talking. It was a good dream at first, then it wasn't." She could still remember so much about what happened in the dream. The cries of Pokémon, the pain of being one of them, the look of panic and fear on Young N's face. "I saw things that happened in that room. The one you had as a kid."
"The power of Psychic and Ghost Pokémon can be quite a marvel at times. Though I would rather call it dreadful in this case." N shook his head, with a look of disappointment on his face. "My sisters have a connection towards Pokémon as unique as my own. Still, I can't fathom what they were thinking by telling you such a thing. Nothing but pain existed in those memories." Hilda could see his hands close into fist angrily at the thought. "I should make them apologize to you."
"Please don't. Last thing I want is to make stuff awkward." Hilda gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "Besides, fucked as it was, it was an experience I am glad for. Least to help me really get where you are coming from. The whole thing makes me feel kind of like a let down in terms of a rival."
"You are not a let down-"
"Come on, Natural. I'm a dumb girl from Kanto, with a crazy dad. You're a king with a tragic past and a super power to talk to Pokémon. I can barely speak to another person without throwing the word 'fuck' around. One is cooler than the other." Hilda chuckled to herself, though quickly stopped and even froze as N moved closer to her. A hand on her shoulder. She felt her face turning red as she felt his hand, the hospital gown she wore did little to hide his surprisingly firm grip.
He then told her a simple fact. "And yet you're the one that beat me." It started as a giggle, then to full laughter. Because it was true. Despite everything, all his speeches, all his skills, his nerve-wracking personality and philosophy, she was the one that came out on top. She was the best, like no one ever was.
She really needs to talk to Alder about getting her and her team into the Hall of fame. She did save the region after all. It is the least they can do. Did N even get a chance to do the same? Technically, he was the champion too.
"Hey, Natural did you-"
"I want to marry you."
A long pause followed. The two are staring at one another. The only sound they could hear being from out in the hallway as N's Zoroark was currently raiding a snack machine.
"What!?" The shout echoes through the room, with Hilda throwing her hands up as she nearly falls out of the bed. Quickly able to catch herself, thankfully. Though nearly falling off again as N repeats himself.
"I want to marry you." Telling as casually as possible. "I am sorry, we were getting much off topic so I wanted to quickly get to what I wanted to tell you. That was it. You can ask your question now." Hilda begins to hit him with her pillow. With the kind of speed to match Fury Swipes, N's cap was knocked off his head, and he was forced to use Defense Curl.
"I am sorry, did I offend you?" N asks, even as the Pillow continues to hit him. Him being worried that Hilda was exerting herself too far. Though he could also do without the assault on his person as well.
"You can't just say something like that! You have to do it right!" Hilda proclaims, her voice coming out in less of a shout of rage, more like a squeak of embarrassment. Her arms were shaking by the 30th hit, yet she wanted to continue to spam the pillow attack. Her mind flush with a lot of emotions very quickly. She wasn't ready for N to take her by her wrists, and stand to his feet. A determined look in his eyes, the same kind as when he and her would battle.
"Then what is the right way to do it, so I may ask the question again." He spoke exactly as a king should when asking something. Calmly and reserved, with warmth in his voice. "Because, I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. Is that not the point of marriage?" Hilda quickly pulls her wrist from his hands. She doesn't try again to hit him, she just looks in shock at the question.
She remembers back to when she first met his sisters and they tried to fit her in a wedding dress. The thought of it made Hilda's throat turn dry. She wasn't sure about such a thing. Marriage that is. They haven't even gone out on a single date. Unless you count the Ferris Wheel ride. Or the time N helped her with a concussion. Neither of which were ideal spots of dating! She even vomited on his crotch during one of those.
"When we did our final battle, I had made plans in case that I would win." N would say, barely catching her attention. Having gotten back to sitting down in the chair by her bedside. "I know I seem to be fully determined with my ideals but, in full transparency, I was willing to make compromises. Well, when I thought Team Plasma was something else. Not the reality of what it was."
He is hesitant at first, but he does reach forward. Placing his hand over Hilda's. "I wanted for you to be my Queen if I won." He is very quick to keep talking right after. "Not that you are a prize to be won! It was because I wanted you to be with me, at my side. Ghetsis and the other sages wanted you as an example. I wanted you as an equal. My equal and my opposite. Someone who would actually speak to me, tell me if I was going too far. Someone I would actually be willing to listen to."
"That last one is a shock." The words fly out of her lips without a thought. N's smile showed that he didn't mind such a thing. He knew his own stubbornness at the time. "You really mean that?"
It was very rare to see Hilda so unsure. N would call it baffling even. The same girl that would fight a Braviary with her bare hands, go across a whole region alone, stand against Team Plasma and its King that held the Power of a Legendary Dragon, face down in a brutal bare knuckle fight against a grown man and his Pokémon willing to kill her. Yet being asked to be wed made her nervous.
Try as he might, he laughed. His head lowered and he failed to keep his composure. "Why would I ever joke about this?" He manages to get out. "You were so much to me at that time. My motivation. My rival. Days would go by and I wonder where you were, how you could be behind me or ahead of me. And the few times we met on that journey were the highlight of everything I did." He leans back into his chair, pulling his hand from hers, while keeping his head lowered.
He didn't want to know Hilda's reaction. Not yet. He wanted to say all he wanted to say. "I didn't want to force you to be my queen. Honestly speaking, it would mostly be an official title as an excuse to keep you at my side. It wouldn't have to be a…" He paused at the word. "...romantic relationship. But I wouldn't mind such a thing."
Hilda still doesn't respond to him. So he continues to ramble. "I remember you somewhat had hinted that maybe you feel something towards said you had a 'thing' for hat-wearing stubborn morons, I believe it was that fits me somewhat. I could be wrong of course. I might just be reading too much into-"
"Stop. Just stop."
Immediately he does as she commands. His lips immediately closed tightly, as he waited for her to say something else. And she didn't, not for a long while. They sat together in her hospital room, dark with only the moonlight. It would be complete silence were there not the sound of a nurse trying to talk to a doctor out in the hall, questioning what he was doing with so much junk food and why he was trying to run from her.
N slowly moves his head up to her, and sees Hilda was holding her hands over her eyes as she was laying on her back again. Either in deep thought or deep regret. He starts to think that maybe he should do what she said and just leave earlier. Leave the hospital, then the region itself. Cause if he is making things as awkward as he is feeling right now, it might be the smart choice to-
"Okay."
"Okay to what?"
"Let's get married."
He was not expecting for her to just…
"I'm sorry Hilda, I think I am not hearing you clearly-" Suddenly she moves to sit up, and her hand grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him closer to her. Their eyes meeting with Hilda seemingly glaring at him.
"No, it's my turn to talk. For over a year, you had me running around, like a Torchic with its head cut off!" N tried not to flinch at metaphor. "Gave me a hell of a crazy challenge, that had me basically stopping an evil organization. I had to deal with being stalked by ninjas. And it all ended as I got into a fist fight with a wannabe tyrant that landed me in a hospital!" This made him drop his head in shame. "And I would do it again!" Now he didn't know how to react.
Even as Hilda let go of his shirt so he could pull away, she continued to speak. "I'm not a saint. I'm far from a nice person. But you are. That is why, I think things got to me as they did. You're a pain, you're a weirdo, you're a tall stubborn nerdy Pokémon whisper! But you are still a good person. I knew it, I am not sure when I did but…"
She raised her knees to her chest and moved to hug them. "Something told me that you didn't deserve to be put with Team Plasma, and the more I learned about them the more I wanted to get involved. So I was okay with it. All of it, no matter how dangerous it got. No matter how much it scared me, and Helix damn it all Natural, did it scared me. But I do it again, and again if I have to. Because I didn't want you to be lied to. I didn't want you to be a bad guy. I wanted to be your friend. Because you seemed like you needed one."
N doesn't speak, he isn't sure what he could say. Instead he just moves to instead sit on the bed, with her. Captivated with each word she said. When she looked towards him, he didn't shy away when their eyes met. Allowing Hilda to continue. "I don't know if you want me to say I love you. I don't even know it honestly but…I would be happy to do it like you said. To spend the rest of my life with you by my side." Hilda reaches a hand out towards him, which he takes in both of his own. Brining it to his lips as a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Hilda's face turned red at the gesture.
Again it was hard to see her act in such a way. It didn't seem like her at all. But he did suppose there was still a lot about her he needed to learn about. And the idea of such a thing, actually made him excited to do so.
"I'm still learning a lot of things." N confesses, brushing his thumbs along Hilda's knuckles. "I mean, it came to my attention very quickly about a certain issue of taboo and-"
"Mom found out you were a few years older than me?" Hilda nodded as N blinked in surprise. "Yeah when your visiting hours were over she came in and demanded we talk about it. I really wish we didn't but she wouldn't let it go. Called you a cradle robber. A Hypno wannabe."
"Well, she had much less kinder words when I told her I was 20 years of age Turning 21 soon."
"It isn't that bad, it's only half a decade." Hilda pulled her hand away from N's hold, so she could cross her arms and pout. Even puffing her cheeks. It made N laugh to see. Made his chest feel light. Made his worry lessen.
Still he wanted more of a confirmation. "So you don't mind that I am older than you?" Hilda decided to answer that by just looking at him with a deadpan silent stare. "I'll take that as a no."
"If someone has a problem with it, well they can kiss our ass. I traveled the whole region, I stopped an evil organization, I am basically a champion, I get to date whoever I want, and if they have a problem with that, they can talk to the giant electric dragon I have!" As if on cue, suddenly there is a flash of lighting outside the hospital window. The large silhouette of Zekrom's form is seen, its red eyes appearing through the knight, and its grin being seen as electricity sparked across its fangs.
N had to ask. "Did you teach it how to do a dramatic entrance?"
"And he is doing a great job, aren't you Zekky?" As Hilda gave the thumbs up, the Legendary dragon gave its usual electrifying laugh, before lowering its head and moving out of sight. How it still amazed N to see how well she bonded to the other Legendary. Both their personalities work excitedly off each other without even needing to speak directly to each other.
It made the king smile to himself.
When silence came down to the room again, it was just him and Hilda sitting together on her bed. Both glancing at each other as trying to think of what to say next. It was no surprise when Hilda blurred out the question.
"Did you bring a ring?"
"A ring?"
"Oh come on, how sheltered were you? You know, when you ask someone to marry, you have them wear a ring to show they are being married. Do I really have to explain this to you? I know you know this being a King."
"Marriage rituals weren't exactly high on the priority lists for the Sage's teaching sessions."
"Oh."
She pressed her lips. N could honestly see the issue she could have with it. He did understand what she was referring to, of course. He wasn't completely clueless as some people might say. He knew that when someone asks to be wed there is usually a ring involved. His sisters forced him to watch some romance films, as soon as the idea of marrying Hilda came into play. He understood perfectly that it was the natural thing to do in this day and age. To show that Hilda and himself were belonging to each other.
Which is why he is currently pinching the bridge of his nose cause he completely forgot about it.
Yes, he was planning to bring a whole new era of human and Pokemon relationships, but that would be beside the point. He was also planning to wed a girl. It would be like forgetting to put a tarp down before painting a masterpiece. It was something so easy that it just…
"I suppose this answers the question I asked earlier if I was an idiot." N mumbled to himself, before he felt Hilda reach over and placed something over his head. The white and pink Trainer cap she wore throughout her whole journey.
"I guess this will just have to make do then." She smiles before she reaches down off the side of the bed, and picks up the hat that she knocked off of N's head when she assaulted him with her pillow. Placing the white and black cap on, she smiled proudly at her idea with her hands on her hips. N couldn't help himself, he laughed. And he laughed hard. She joined in.
It was fitting she would do such a thing. Just a random idea that fitted perfectly to what was needed. No matter how random it may seem. Anarchy, she calls it. Something she learned from her father. Sometimes it helps to act as randomly or as impulsive as possible. He did start to lose her when she explained to him how democracy was evil, but even still the concept fascinated him.
It felt right to call it that. To call them that. Whatever comes they can deal with it. If Ghetsis returns, they can deal with him. If someone wishes to complain about how they choose to live their life, they can deal with them too. Maybe they can make plans about it, maybe they can just stop thinking so much and just do whatever comes to mind.
Life is a series of equations. Numbers and formulas construction as much from years of planning as much as happenstance. Some can call it fate, others call it random. Arceus knows which is actually true. Sometimes a single thing can happen and lead you into rethinking everything you previously knew about those aspects.
Fate. Randomness. Life.
Anarchy.
Pure Natural Anarchy.
It was enough to make N start laughing again, as soon as he calmed down. Before Hilda could ask what was so funny, N's Zoroark practically fell through the door. His fur is covered in the crumbs of snack items, like chocolate and chips. With very wide eyes that seem to have an air of dread in them.
"What happened…what do you mean you used Super Punch on a nurse?! I don't care if it was super effective! Is he okay?" The Zoroark rushed to the bed and started to shove and push N towards the window, with it obviously clear that the nurse was okay, and that was what the Zoroark was running from. From the sound of it out in the hall, the nurse was very upset and now has a Mienshao with him.
"We will talk more about it in the morning. Sleep and make sure you get your full nights rest, Hil-" N stops himself as he makes it halfway through the window. And with possibly the most cheerful smile she ever seen him give, he tips the pink and white cap on his head and says. "Get a full night's rest, my Queen."
Before she could blush or make any kind of reaction to something like that being said, N's Zoroark pulled him through the window to make their escape. Making the ex-king let out a very unroyal yelp of surprise. Hilda laughed. She laughed till her sides were hurting. Forgetting all about the nightmare she had. Instead she lays back in her bed, clutching her new hat to her chest. It wasn't a crown. But she did feel nice to have it. It felt nice. Like assurance.
Forget about being the best like no one ever was. To hell with what her dad did. She did what she wanted to do. Ever since the first day of her journey, it was about N. She wanted to beat him. To show him he was wrong. To befriend him. She did it all. Now she is marrying him.
Winning with an undefeated streak throughout a Pokémon journey. Toppling down some insane lunatics plans for world domination. Collecting and being able to use the power of a Legendary Pokemon. They were bonuses. Satisfying bonuses. But bonuses all the same.
And she told N, she would happily do it all over again.
[I would like to thank you for coming this far and reading this. This is one of my favorite Pokemon games, and I wanted to write about it. Please leave a review of what you think, I really like hearing people's opinions on my work so I can improve on stuff.
I had fun writing for Hilda, where I took her characteristics based on Panty from PaSwG of all characters, it just seemed to fit. And I tied it to one of my favorite bits of Pokemon, being Twitch plays's lore because that was just for the added fun that could be had. I am not 100% sure what I would be working on next, but again I am glad I can finally put a pin in this and marked it off as another finished story.
Once more, thank you for reading.]