N Harmonia Gropius

“…..” He blinked, not too sure how to answer that, or what warranted the question.

“Ooohh I have something I mind for that.~”((Awhile back I found this cosplay and I love it and Grim would SO wear it!! Look below the cut!))

“No, I’ve just heard of them. I wanted to help Pokemon too. I wanted to help everyone, so I joined Team Magma.”

He visibly frowned, he learned that his team was really no help to anyone, how was this team magma any different.

{{♔}} “…I am certainly more of the lost. Do you know where Castelia City is?”

She brushed a lock of dark hair out of her face so she could see him better. He didn’t look that menacing, but he reminded her of… someone she’d seen before. And it was not a good someone, to say the least.

“I am sorry about this, I seem to be awful with the directions.”

The other person was definitely foreign, or at least didnt speak English primarily. He smiled at them warmly and shrugged off their apology.

[ nharmionagropius. ]

{{♔}} Ah, her first visit to Unova. Nimbasa City was a bright, beautiful one, and she was rather impressed. It was a giant, bustling center city, but that didn’t mean it had no beauty to it.

After about an hour was the time she’d realized that she had become hopelessly lost.

She’d been on the corner near the Musical Theater, and one person had caught the tall one’s attention out of the black and grey business suits; a person with long green hair, held in place by a white cap. Cecil’s arm reached down to tap his shoulder quietly and politely beofre stating er question.

“Excusez-moi… I am lost, mon ami. Might you be of assistance?”

N didnt really have much of a reason to be in Nimbasa. He was just re acquainting himself with the town at the time. N had a lot of fond memories here, one of his most treasured being the Ferris wheel ride with his old rival. It made him smile as he thought of it, it never occurred to him that he would find comfort in these feelings so many years later, but he now often got lost in thought pretty frequently when they came to mind.

Someone tapped him on the back, snapping him out of his reminiscing, they spoke...french? Their accent was a little heavy too, not that it mattered, He knew what was being asked at least.

I knew it.

The odds were too low, but in the end we’d come close. N had triumphed, and our exhibition match was over.

The final attack was spectacular; both our Pokemon were engulfed in a brilliant electric field and send flying by the force of the power dissipating rapidly. Dedenne had not fared well in this, and I would have to visit the Pokemon centre one last time before I left this city and headed for Kalos.

“You did great, as always Dedenne…” I said with a bitter-sweet smile on my face.

I recalled my Pokemon and looked at the person who had given me such an incredible fight. Even in victory, he was more concerned with his Pokemon than the actual win. Without even bothering to use a ball first, N had rushed over to hug his Pokemon. Congratulating it, sharing the joy of this match with it.

I had no clue who this person was, but I could say without a doubt that they loved Pokemon. I could admire not only their bravery, but also their respect for their team mates. Though N had been reverent of me earlier, but right now, the one deserving of the reverence for him. His kindness to his team; his impeccable skill in battle. It almost gave him an air of regality and poise.

Graceful and firm, yet… Innocent.

Well, you can’t stand here and wax poetic all day can you Clemont?

No, I didn’t have the time for that sadly. I had so much I wanted to ask, I wanted to thank N, since he had so politely shown gratitude to me, despite my lack of skill compared to him.

However, I had time only for gratitude.

“Thank you N… You were really good too… I’d love to battle you some more, but I’m afraid I have to go now. If I don’t leave I’ll miss my boat and-”

When did this many people gather around us?!

When did they all start watching us?!

In a heart beat, it dawned on me that our battle, as spectacular as it was, probably attracted the attention of these people. I’d been so caught up in the moment and spirit of it all that I hadn’t noticed the crowd. But now that I’d become aware, I really, really, really wanted to go!

“A-And then I won’t be a-able to go h-home!” I blurted out, cheeks turning red with nervousness. “S-So yeah, Thank you f-for the fun battle but I’ve g-gotta d-dash!” I finished, panic rising all the while.

I gave my acquaintance a forced smile, despite my anxiety because I was genuinely happy. Immediately after that though, I shouted out a ‘bye!’ as I ran off quickly in the direction of the Pokemon centre.

I’m sorry we couldn’t talk more, and I don’t know if we’ll meet again. But I wish you all the best N, you are easily one of the best trainers I’ve seen.

I thought to myself as I hurriedly left the scene of our duel.

N waved at the other as he hurriedly made his way down the street.

“Thank you for the battle, I hope to see you again someday friend!”

And into the distance the other boy ran until he was no longer in sight.  N smiled and kept going along his way, this definitely isnt how he was expecting his day to start but it was looking up so far. 

He simply smiled at the onlookers and continued to go on about his business, walking way through castelia and onwards towards nimbasa.

Most interesting indeed. I hope ill meet him again, he was a fine boy indeed. 

I need more RP partners!

N seemed visibly surprised by our manoeuvre, but not the least bit deterred by it either. Regardless, this was small, but important victory in the scheme of this battle. Dedenne had taken far too much damage, and the toxic-shadow claw attack insured that it would have been poisoned. Dedenne wouldn’t be able to hold out any longer.

Our opponent was already gearing up for his finisher too; in fact at this point our defeat was quite likely, at least within the margin of 99 and 99.5%

At the very least.

This battle was amazingly fun, and we couldn’t have known how strong N was beforehand, which really only made it more exciting in the middle of it. That said though, it wasn’t over until the final hit, and if we were going to lose within a turn or two, whether we took the hit or not, then our only real recourse was…

All or nothing.

Zoroark was paralysed, in the middle of an attack, and was incredibly close to us, so the chance of it dodging this next attack was Nil. Even with forgiving math on it’s side. Dedenne on the other hand had accumulated enough charge to let loose one final blast of an attack, but if it did, it would mean taking the façade to the face.

In other words, either we lost, or this match ended in a draw. Losing was infinitely more likely, but waiting for the end to come didn’t sit right with me. It likely wouldn’t sit with Dedenne either; my Pokemon wouldn’t want it’s efforts to go to waste. Even if this gambit had a 0.0000001% chance of succeeding, it was still better than zero by a mile, and we would take it.

Our enemies attack would be slowed due to paralysis, which gave us just enough time to pull this off before being hit, but one hit was all we would get, and all we could take.

“Dedenne, stand your ground and use discharge! Give it every ounce of power you’ve got!”

You are as strong as you are mysterious N. Who knew I’d meet someone like you here?

This was it, the final gamble. Everything up til now led to this point, it was inevitable that Zoroark would get hit, and the hit would be strong, but so would Dedenne and Zoroark had the lead in stamina having been only hit once up to this point and not by a particularly strong move either. So he would just hope that Zoroark would pull through

The facade covered claw barely grazed the Dedenne but not before they both were shrouded in the large area of electric discharge. 

It dissipated soon after and both pokemon went sliding towards their respective owners.  Zoroark! N cried out in urgency.

The Dedenne was down for the count but Zoroark was still on the ground. 

Cmon... Cmon!!

....

The silence was then broken with the Zoroark grunting and struggling but then standing up proudly looking at Clemont with a face of triumph.

N ran over to his pokemon and gave it a big hug,

“You did it pal..” He said in a soft voice. “Now you deserve a long rest okay? I’ll treat you to something nice for doing so well..but for now.. return”

He then pressed the button on the pokeball and the Zoroark returned the inside.

“Clemont,” He said looking up at him “that was a great set, you battle with all your spirit and it definitely shows. It was definitely a pleasure.”

“Dedenne!” I shouted, unable to comprehend how N had been able to issue a command non-verbally and so quickly.

To do that required long hours of specific entrainment, or a very strong non-verbal bond with a Pokemon. The only other method was Telepathy, but Zoroark wasn’t a psychic type so that couldn’t work to begin with!

My mind reeled. Questions seared every open Neuron I had; N was skilled far beyond what I could even imagine. For someone so strong to be so un-assuming…

This is unprecedented!

Though Dedenne took a shadow claw, which was worrying in itself, I found myself in awe of this boy. For him to be only a little older than I, but to be so talented was amazing! I could wager a fair guess he had yet to even use everything up his sleeve either. N was just so… strong. He was definitely someone I could admire, that was for sure.

Still, this respect, and my lack of knowledge on him only made my fighting spirit burn that much brighter.

You have the upper-hand, but I’m not out yet!

Zoroark was about to slash again, but I had better ideas. I’d just have to wait until the point of no return, where the slash hit it’s downward arc an-

THERE!

“Dedenne, Nuzzle it now!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

We’d take damage from the hit, no doubt, but so would Zoroark, and speed would finally cease to be one of the many factors against us. Given how much damage my poor Pokemon had taken already, time certainly wasn’t one of those factors, but at least this way, speed was one less thing to worry about!

N was actually taken aback at the others eye for detail, he was so sure that he wouldve gotten over on him in this was but that was apparently not the case. He was gonna have to take the hit, but in light of this setback a new opportunity opened that would perhaps be the closing in this battle. But he had to act fast. 

He could see Zoroark wince from the small pain that came from the nuzzle, but N knew he wasnt down for the count.

Zoroark now while youre in close, use Facade!! 

It was a final roll of the dice, but if this hit, this could spell the end for Dedenne.

Zoroark outstretched a claw that began to glow a multi colored aura, and winced one more time before going to swipe at  the Dedenne.