Chapter 34 – Natural Harmonia Gropius

Six Years Earlier

Natural felt very grown up turning ten. He was a man now, not only that, but he was a future king. That's what Ghetsis had told him.

Ghetsis was his father. He was a very kind man, even though he looked scary. Ghetsis had saved him from the orphanage. He didn't like the orphanage. They didn't let him keep his Pokémon friends from the forest. Ghetsis let him bring his friends. They all lived in his bedroom now.

Ghetsis said the world outside wasn't safe, so Natural didn't mind staying inside his room all the time. He was never lonely because he had his friends. The forest he used to live in seemed safe, but then, he never saw people there. They were the danger. They hurt Pokémon. They would probably hurt him too.

Not Ghetsis, though. Ghetsis was kind. His sisters were kind too. Another kind man used to visit him sometimes, by the name of Rood. Rood used to teach him things, like magic tricks or math. Ghetsis said that these kind people were the exception, not the rule.

Natural loved math. Numbers made sense to him. They always worked, fitting together like puzzle pieces. He liked how math was everywhere. It was in his toys, in the windows, the door, even in the way his basketball bounced. Rood gave him a picture of something called a Ferris wheel. Natural loved the Ferris wheel. The circular motion… The mechanics… They were like collections of elegant formulas. He hoped that one day, when he was king, he and his friends could go on a Ferris wheel.

Sometimes Ghetsis would bring him new friends. He loved making new friends, although it was always sad meeting them for the first time. They would often have injuries caused by people. They were always frightened, expecting Natural to hurt them as well. But Natural wasn't a cruel person. He wasn't sure that he was a person at all. If anything, Natural was a Pokémon, just like his friends.

Natural could understand Pokémon in a way nobody else could. It was his special power. Ghetsis said that's why he was chosen to be the king.

"Too many Pokémon have been oppressed and hurt by people for far too long. To save them from this awful fate... This is the mission of Team Plasma." Ghetsis had told him, "One day, you shall be Team Plasma's greatest leader. You have the power to hear the inner voices of Pokémon. A power given to you to be able to fulfil your mission."

Natural wasn't sure anybody had given him his power. He was sure he'd been born with it. He vividly remembered the voice of the Darmanitan that had looked after him as a young child, he remembered the words she used to say. She used to sing to him. It was a lovely melody, but it sounded different in his own voice, when he'd sing it to himself at night.

Natural didn't like battling, but Ghetsis said he had to. If he wasn't strong, then he couldn't be a king. And if he wasn't a king, then Pokémon would continue to be hurt. Sometimes Natural cried when he had to battle, even though he was very grown up. Ghetsis didn't like that. He would act very scary. But Ghetsis said he had to be scary, otherwise Natural wouldn't learn the lessons he was teaching. Natural supposed he was right, although he didn't like it.

Natural had a lot of time to think. Not many things happened in this castle, aside from the hammering and drilling that whirred constantly outside his bedroom. The castle was still under construction, but Ghetsis had wanted him and his sisters out of the Harmonia mansion, so their wing had been finished first. Ghetsis said that one day the castle wouldn't be underground. Natural looked forward to that. He sometimes drew pictures of trees and a blue sky and taped it to his dark windows.

Natural sat cross-legged on the floor in front of his train set. Zorua balanced on the tracks, pushing a train along with its nose. Natural giggled.

"One day," he proclaimed, scratching between Zorua's ears, "I'll make sure no one ever hurts you. I'll make sure all Pokémon are free."

"As long as I get to stay with you," Zorua turned to him with concerned eyes.

"People and Pokémon need to be separated, otherwise Pokémon will keep getting hurt... But I'm more of a Pokémon than a person, so I suppose we can stay together." N replied thoughtfully.

"Yay!" Zorua leapt up onto Natural's shoulders. "In that case, long live King Natural!"

"Long live the king!" trilled Woobat, fluttering overhead.

As his friends chanted happily, he heard the door creak open. It was Ghetsis, his shadow looming tall in the doorway. Natural scrambled to his feet and stood obediently before him.

"N," Ghetsis addressed him. He had stopped using Natural's real name. He said 'N' sounded more important. "You are ten now. You are getting closer to the day you'll become king,"

"Yes, Father," Natural nodded. He wondered if perhaps Ghetsis was bringing him a present. Usually, it was Rood that bought him presents, but ten felt like a very special age to be.

"You must understand that a king cannot afford to be weak. You will need to show strength, not just in battle, but in your ideals. People will question you. They will try to change your mind. But you must not waver. The liberation of Pokémon is the greatest goal. Nothing else matters."

Natural looked up at him, still thinking about presents. Rood was a good person. Maybe there were others. "But what if... What if people are good sometimes? What if they don't want to hurt Pokémon?"

Ghetsis' eye narrowed. "They may say they care, but actions speak louder than words. You've seen the Pokémon I've brought to you, haven't you? All of them hurt by human hands. Remember, N, a king must protect his kingdom, even from those who pretend to be friends."

Natural swallowed, nodding. "I understand."

"Now, it is your birthday, so I have brought you a gift." Ghetsis said, his expression serious.

Natural beamed. 'I knew it!' he thought, hopping from foot to foot as Ghetsis produced a heavy cardboard box.

Ghetsis reached down into the box and pulled out a Lillipup. N's smile dropped as he took in the appearance of it. A broken collar hung loosely around its neck and its fur was matted from dirt and neglect. It looked around with wide, fearful eyes as Ghetsis held it by the scruff of its neck.

"This," Ghetsis said, his voice a low rumble, "is another victim of people's cruelty. This is why you must be strong. You must fight for them."

Natural felt his heart ache as he approached the Pokémon, gently scooping it up into his arms. It was severely malnourished. Natural could feel its ribs through its dishevelled fur.

"Where am I?" It whimpered. Its whole body trembled.

"It's okay," he whispered, rocking it ever so slightly in his arms. "You're safe now. I'll protect you. I promise."

After a minute, the trembling eased off and Lillipup relaxed in his arms. He watched as it closed its eyes, drifting off into a much needed sleep. Ghetsis was right. Pokémon needed to be saved from all people. And Natural would be the one to do it. He would be their king, their protector.

That was his dream.