Thanks to the people on tumblr who read this.

It felt like forever that N had been huddled into the corner of his room, trying to stop crying. He felt weak when he cried, but he couldn't help it. Daddy was mad at him, because N had been a bad boy. No, he didn't want daddy mad at him. Daddy was nice, and he was right. N was selfish, very selfish. Everything had been given to him on a silver platter, but he still wanted more. No wonder daddy never smiled at him. It was all N's fault.

The room was getting cold, but N couldn't bring himself to stand up and grab his blanket. This was his punishment, he deserved to be cold. N was a bad boy, a very bad boy. He didn't deserve to sleep in his bed tonight. Or whatever time of day it was. N slept when he was tired and right now, he was sleepy.

The Zorua was still hiding under his bed, not that N was paying much attention to it. Every now and then, he would lift his head from his arms, spotting the small pokemon peeking out from under his blanket. Even in the dim light, he could see one of its large ears had a huge hole in it, like something took a bite out of it or cut it off. Had its owner done that? How cruel. N couldn't even imagine how someone could be so mean.

Every time N lifted his head to stare at the pokemon, it would dive back under his bed. It was almost sad, but N didn't want it to hate him, so he gave it its space. Let it come out on its own. There was no need to push it, especially since it was scared.

It gave N time to focus on his punishment. He hated being like this, he just wanted daddy to love him, and he had made him angry. It was surprising that he was able to keep all of his toys. They were given to him out of love, and he had spat at it. N was a bad boy.

Shivering, N curled into a tighter ball, his head still buried in his arms. The tears had finally stopped, but he still felt sick. What he wanted was for daddy to come in and tell him it was okay, N's punishment was over, and that he loved him. That would never happen. Nobody in this place even smiled at him, there was no way that would ever happen. It made him a little sad knowing he would never hear his daddy tell him he loved him. N loved his daddy very, very much. He wanted to be just like him when he grew up. Tall, nice to everyone, and save pokemon, just like him.

There was something warm brushing against his leg and N lifted his head, feeling groggy. He must've fallen asleep sitting that way. After yawning and wiping his eyes, he spotted the Zorua pacing in front of him, its tail brushing against his leg. Its eyes never left his as it paced back and forth.

A small ball of excitement welled up inside him. Did this mean his punishment was over? Was the pokemon finally getting more comfortable in his room?

"Hi." His voice was raspy from crying, but he smiled. "My name is N."

Still, the pokemon stared at him, like it was studying him, sizing him up, trying to figure out if he was a threat or not. Now that it was up close to him, N could make out distinguishable red marks on its body. Patches of fur were missing on its tail, one of its eyes looked like it had film over it, yet it stared at him.

He had to make it see he was nice, N was a good boy. "I won't hurt you. Did your owner do that to you? You're okay now. You have to stay in my room, because that's what daddy says, but you'll like it in here. We can do anything." As if it understood, the Zorua seemed to relax a little, now cocking its head at him. It stopped pacing.

Swallowing, N wanted to pet it. What if it scratched him again? He wanted to pet it though, he wanted to show it he was nice. Why would it have come close to him if that meant it wasn't getting more comfortable with him?

Biting his lip, N reached forward, being as gentle as he could when he ran his hand down its back. He could feel its spine and it made him cringe, but the Zorua stayed, it didn't show any signs of attacking him.

That made N smile and he continued patting it, being slow, being gentle.

The room wasn't cold anymore.

It was a long time since then. N couldn't remember, but he was reading now. His clothes were getting too small for him and he had to curl into a ball to fit onto his bed now. His hair was getting longer. The rare times when his daddy would come in, he never said anything about it, so to get it out of the way, N would tie it back. He didn't really like long hair. It got in the way when he played with Zorua.

Since then, Zorua had become really attached to him. It no longer hid under his bed or stared at him like he would hit it at any moment, and N was happy it trusted him now. As much as he loved his Snivy and Tepig plushes, Zorua would follow him around, even to the bathroom (which he found a little awkward at first because it would stare at him while he peed), and curl up under the blankets with him. It was always really warm and comforting, a comfort neither Snivy nor Tepig nor any other toy could give him.

N didn't think he could live without Zorua right next to him everyday. He'd gotten more attached to the pokemon than he ever thought he would. Everywhere he went, Zorua wasn't far behind, not that there were many places to go in his room.

To catch up on his reading, N found it was fun to snuggle up with Zorua at night and read a book to it, even if it didn't understand. One book he kept coming back to was one about a girl who had been locked in a tower with no way out, but a prince would ride by everyday and the girl would let down her really long hair, letting the prince come up.

The story would make him a little sad sometimes. Because the girl and the prince were seeing each other in secret, but when the girl's mother found out, she cut the girl's really long hair and sent her away. When the prince returned, the mother pushed him from the tower and it blinded him.

But the ending was happy. The prince found the girl and they had kids and lived happily ever after.

N liked books that had happy endings, but he couldn't help but be confused every time he closed the book and Zorua would snuggle next to him and doze off. The girl in the book had disobeyed her mother, and she was punished for it, by having all of her hair cut off and cast away. N liked the book because the girl, like him, was told she had to stay in her room all day, everyday. But at least she had a window to look out of. N didn't even have that. And the girl got in trouble because out of her window, she could see the prince. Did daddy not let him have a window so nobody could come into his room?

The girl had been bad, so her mother threw her out and never wanted to see her again. It made N a little sad to think about it. He had been a bad boy, and he hadn't seen his daddy that much since Zorua was given to him. Would daddy throw him out if he were a bad boy? N loved his daddy, he didn't want to make him angry anymore.

Setting the book down next to his bed, N snuggled under the covers with Zorua, enjoying the warmth it gave him before falling asleep.

The next time N awoke, he heard the sound of his door creaking open and instantly sat up in bed. Anytime his door opened, he was happy. Even with Zorua by his side to keep him company, having light and fresh air was welcome anytime in his room.

He expected to see the pink-haired lady with food, not- "Daddy?"

Zorua yawned by him, stretching and leaning against him as his daddy crossed the floor, kicking stray toys out of the way. "Your room is dirty."

N could feel the familiar weight of guilt press onto him. The room wasn't clean because he hadn't expected daddy to come. Daddy never visited him much anymore. "I-I didn't know you would be coming."

All he could see now was his father's shadow as he stopped walking, now just a few steps away from the bed. "Excuse me?" And even N could hear the anger in his voice. No, no, no, he was supposed to be a good boy. Daddy wasn't supposed to be angry at him. N was so stupid.

Staring up at him, N tried to make out his father's face in the darkness. "I-I" And he just couldn't stop stuttering. That weight he felt only got heavier. "I didn't clean bec-cause-" Daddy was angry again. Why couldn't N do anything right.

"I should take away everything in your room. Your only excuse is you didn't know when I'd be coming in?"

Heart pounding in his ears, it took all of N's willpower not to cry again. He hated it when daddy was mad at him. Please, don't let daddy be mad. N was a good boy! "N-no sir. I mean-yes sir." N's eyes were focused on the patterns in his father's robes. He couldn't even look at him anymore.

"I shouldn't have to put up with this. This room should be spotless whether I come in or not." As he spoke, his father looked down at his feet where N's Tepig plush lay and he picked it up. Almost smiling, his father held it in both hands, making sure N saw. "I came to tell you it's your birthday, N. You're turning 8 today. That's why I gave you Zorua, because you're growing up. Soon you're going to be king, and you can leave this room. But not before you learn certain things." The toy was gripped tight. "You're too old to be playing with toys like this." With one quick motion, the toy was ripped in two, stuffing falling to the floor.

N couldn't even comprehend what just happened. No, he didn't much play with Tepig and Snivy anymore, but. But he still loved them. All he could concentrate on was the Tepig as his father dropped it, stepping on it and ripping it to even more shreds. Tears fell, and N could do nothing to stop him. Why? Tepig, he-

Suddenly pain to the side of his face and N didn't realize at first that his father had slapped him. His cheek was on fire and N's hand shot up, cupping it, crying harder. Why? Why would daddy- Daddy was mad, he was mad, N was sorry, he-!

"You fucking baby, look at you. You're a big boy, N. Big boys don't cry and they certainly don't play with toys anymore, yet even though I've given you the Zorua, you're still so determined to spit on everything I give you? I gave you all of these things, N, so I'm perfectly allowed to take them back when I feel you've outgrown them. But if you seem so adamant about being a child, maybe I should take Zorua, too."

Reaching forward, Zorua was scooped up into his arms and N found himself screaming when Zorua squeaked in fright, clawing and biting the arms that held it. "NO! DADDY, NO, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY PLEASE!" Leaping from the bed, N grabbed at his father's robes, begging pleading with everything in his body. "DADDY, PLEASE, I'M SORRY! YOU'RE RIGHT, I'LL BE A GOOD BOY, I'M SORRY! DON'T TAKE ZORUA!" N couldn't live without Zorua. He would die if daddy took it.

Without a word, his father finally dropped Zorua who scrambled to its feet when it landed ungracefully onto its back, and dashed under N's bed. It whimpered in fright.

N could feel his racing heart start to slow. Daddy didn't take Zorua, he didn't take it, it's okay, was repeated over and over in his head. Everything was okay.

His daddy bent down, grabbing his face, making his cheek that had been hit earlier sting. "You've been a bad boy, N. I'm bringing someone in to take all of your toys away. You thought you were bored before, you know nothing. A king does not play with children's toys, N. If you're going to be king one day, you have to know these things. A king has responsibilities, and a king knows pain." With that said, N felt like his face was on fire when his father struck him a second time, sending his head lolling to the side. Nothing but confusion ran through him. Why was daddy hitting him? "You've seen Zorua's scars. That's nothing like a slap, N. You have to understand that."

More tears, and they only stung his face more. N was hurting so much, just make it stop.

His daddy released him, standing up. "Do you understand?"

Nodding, N couldn't look at him. He was bad, very bad. "Yes sir."

The door slammed shut, trapping him in darkness. N didn't remember his daddy leaving his side, but he was grateful for him to be gone. No, that was wrong. N loved his daddy, but- Daddy had made him hurt, because N had disobeyed him. Babies cried, N wasn't a baby anymore. Daddy loved him, he did, he did.

Sinking to the floor, the tears continued to fall, and N winced as they ran over his face, burning. It was his fault. Daddy hated him. All his fault.

Warm fur rubbed against his leg and N reached out, sobbing, choking, trying to stop, because he was being a baby, and hugged Zorua. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Over and over, maybe saying it would make things better, but he knew it wouldn't. His face hurt because he was a baby, all of his toys were going to be taken away because that's what stupid babies played with.

Zorua laid its head against his chest as he sobbed. Maybe it was his imagination, he couldn't tell. He hoped it wasn't though. Through his sobs, he thought he heard Zorua speak.

'I love you.'

N's Rapunzel book is based on the one I had when I was little. Not the disney movie.