Thread: Speculation: Maybe N is really a Zoroark?

Originally Posted by Robo-Floatzel

Also, there's a rather big plothole I've found in the Gen 5 games in which why N and Ghetsis have the same hair color if N was apparently adopted by Ghetsis and is not his genetically born son, there's not really too much of a clear explanation about N's backstory in my opinion, it's rather confusing to me as the games tell it somewhat out of order and in pieces, I'm not sure about the manga though as I haven't really read it.

It's not that hard to figure out. Ghetsis likely dyed his own hair to convince the naive N when he was in the wild that they were related. Not just to the boy but also to everyone else since as his father, he could be an advisor/adjutant in the Team Plasma with the second highest authority in the organization. Given what we've seen of this madman, I wouldn't put it past him to go the extra mile like this.

While the backstory is vague at best, it doesn't take a genius to draw your own conclusions from the information we're given. I don't mind that GF didn't really "expand" on his backstory since, well, it's nothing new for Pokemon and playing detective is fun. For me, at least.

I'm a firm supporter of this theory. While I originally only implemented it as a focal point in my fanfiction, I accepted it as part of my headcanon after seeing the clip of the Zoroark in Victory Road. I do doubt that it's official, but I see no harm in believing it unless it's completely disproved. I've brainstormed numerous details and explanations for different components of this theory while planning my fic, and while a lot of them are specific to my story, I've considered things such as how N would've been able to evolve from Zorua to Zoroark and why he appears physically similar to Ghetsis. I can understand why most people disagree with it, though. ^^;

Originally Posted by matt0044

Originally Posted by Robo-Floatzel

Also, there's a rather big plothole I've found in the Gen 5 games in which why N and Ghetsis have the same hair color if N was apparently adopted by Ghetsis and is not his genetically born son, there's not really too much of a clear explanation about N's backstory in my opinion, it's rather confusing to me as the games tell it somewhat out of order and in pieces, I'm not sure about the manga though as I haven't really read it.

It's not that hard to figure out. Ghetsis likely dyed his own hair to convince the naive N when he was in the wild that they were related. Not just to the boy but also to everyone else since as his father, he could be an advisor/adjutant in the Team Plasma with the second highest authority in the organization. Given what we've seen of this madman, I wouldn't put it past him to go the extra mile like this.

While the backstory is vague at best, it doesn't take a genius to draw your own conclusions from the information we're given. I don't mind that GF didn't really "expand" on his backstory since, well, it's nothing new for Pokemon and playing detective is fun. For me, at least.

That's kind of what I originally meant to say was that it was a little too vague, but I didn't know what word to use. I mean, I know Pokemon is a kids game and they wouldn't be able to understand too complex of a story at their age, but even then, N's backstory needs some more depth to it to put much of the Wild Mass Guessing to rest, and that's what I'm personally hoping Episode N does is reveal a bit more about the character of N, and while it's true that the anime and manga tend to change things from the games (sometimes to the point of in-name-only), I at least hope they clarify his backstory a bit more...

Originally Posted by Robo-Floatzel

That's kind of what I originally meant to say was that it was a little too vague, but I didn't know what word to use. I mean, I know Pokemon is a kids game and they wouldn't be able to understand too complex of a story at their age, but even then, N's backstory needs some more depth to it to put much of the Wild Mass Guessing to rest, and that's what I'm personally hoping Episode N does is reveal a bit more about the character of N, and while it's true that the anime and manga tend to change things from the games (sometimes to the point of in-name-only), I at least hope they clarify his backstory a bit more...

They could do this. Works for Gundam and Macross.

Looking into this thread again...

Now I was reminded of that little incident on the New Unova Victory Road. While talking to N as a partner, well, I always give the text a read, and... well, there certainly is a part that jumps out a bit. It's weird.

I'm still on the fence on whether N is Zoroark or not, though. I can't exactly lean to either side at this point, not without solid proof of counter-proof.

Originally Posted by Haxy

Now I was reminded of that little incident on the New Unova Victory Road. While talking to N as a partner, well, I always give the text a read, and... well, there certainly is a part that jumps out a bit. It's weird.

What did he say?

Ah, yes, I remember that part. He mentions something about Anthea and Concordia "raising him as a human".

Originally Posted by Ahnyo

Ah, yes, I remember that part. He mentions something about Anthea and Concordia "raising him as a human".

I think that just shows N's uh awkwardness about his humanity. He hasn't interacted with humans that much outside of Team Plasma (who worshipped the dude) and Ghetsis before meeting the PC of BW/Alder, then the PC of BW2, so I think it's understandable that he wouldn't have any idea on how to be human. His worldview was pretty limited so he had no idea on how to live As a human, besides clothes and stuff probably. I mean for all we know he could go to the bathroom in the woods.

Originally Posted by matt0044

Originally Posted by Robo-Floatzel

Also, there's a rather big plothole I've found in the Gen 5 games in which why N and Ghetsis have the same hair color if N was apparently adopted by Ghetsis and is not his genetically born son, there's not really too much of a clear explanation about N's backstory in my opinion, it's rather confusing to me as the games tell it somewhat out of order and in pieces, I'm not sure about the manga though as I haven't really read it.

It's not that hard to figure out. Ghetsis likely dyed his own hair to convince the naive N when he was in the wild that they were related. Not just to the boy but also to everyone else since as his father, he could be an advisor/adjutant in the Team Plasma with the second highest authority in the organization. Given what we've seen of this madman, I wouldn't put it past him to go the extra mile like this.

While the backstory is vague at best, it doesn't take a genius to draw your own conclusions from the information we're given. I don't mind that GF didn't really "expand" on his backstory since, well, it's nothing new for Pokemon and playing detective is fun. For me, at least.

I had previously thought about that plothole, and came to the same conclusion: that they were originally intended to be related but at the last moment GF changed their minds and that the similar hair might be explained saying it was to fool everyone. However, then there's B2W2, where Ghetsis doesn't need N to believe in his parenthood anymore. While Ghetsis still needs N to show up in order to steal his dragon and fuse with Kyurem, Ghetsis plan doesn't include tricking N, as he intends to lure N via Kyurem's power and take the dragon by force; so, if his hair color was a dyejob, why maintain it when it is no longer necessary in B2W2?

So here goes my theory: while not actually father and son, they're still blood-related (i.e. uncle and nephew or something akin). N's parents could have died or simply abandoned him for any reason, making him the perfect candidate for Ghetsis' plans. Or, to take it further: Ghetsis might have actually murdered them (it's very common in fiction that villains murder their relatives when they are obstacles to their evil deeds). In BW2 we see that he doesn't hesitate to try to kill your character, proving that he can (and maybe did) kill people when necessary to fulfill his desires. But that might be farfetched and there's no proof of that so I'm just going to stick with the part that N and Ghetsis are still relatives, just not father and son.

That or it's just a coincidence. I mean, if humans in the Pokémon world can resemble individuals FROM OTHER SPECIES (trainers looking like Pokémon they own, i.e. Alder and Volcarona, or even Pokémon they don't own, i.e. Morty and Misdreavus, Iris and Zoroark), it's not hard to believe at all that they can resemble individuals from ther own species (that is, other people) without being relatives.


But back on topic:

Originally Posted by Ahnyo

I see no harm in believing it unless it's completely disproved.

There is one way to completely disprove the theory: in BW1, N truly believes Ghetsis is his father. If N was a Pokémon, he would be aware that they're not related. There you are. As simple as that.


Really, both sets of games remark how N is really intelligent, if somewhat naive, and THAT is what makes him stand out as an interesting character. If this theory was true, then N would not be intelligent anymore, just plain stupid (how could a Pokémon be fooled into thinking and believing that a human is its biological father? That is not being naive, that's just dumb), destroying what makes him interesting and deep in the first place.

Originally Posted by VeggiePopper

so, if his hair color was a dyejob, why maintain it when it is no longer necessary in B2W2?

Ghetsis either grew to like his look enough to keep it and/or it was permanent and he couldn't get it out, not that he really care that much. Yeah, it's likely my own bullcrap headcanon but my headcanon nonetheless.

Originally Posted by matt0044

Originally Posted by VeggiePopper

so, if his hair color was a dyejob, why maintain it when it is no longer necessary in B2W2?

Ghetsis either grew to like his look enough to keep it and/or it was permanent and he couldn't get it out, not that he really care that much. Yeah, it's likely my own bullcrap headcanon but my headcanon nonetheless.

Well, you do know that permanents are not actually permanent, do you? While they last long, there's no way Ghetsis' dye would last a whopping 2 years. So probably it would be your first option: he liked the color enough to keep it, but I still like my theory the most.

Originally Posted by VeggiePopper

Originally Posted by matt0044

Originally Posted by VeggiePopper

so, if his hair color was a dyejob, why maintain it when it is no longer necessary in B2W2?

Ghetsis either grew to like his look enough to keep it and/or it was permanent and he couldn't get it out, not that he really care that much. Yeah, it's likely my own bullcrap headcanon but my headcanon nonetheless.

Well, you do know that permanents are not actually permanent, do you? While they last long, there's no way Ghetsis' dye would last a whopping 2 years. So probably it would be your first option: he liked the color enough to keep it, but I still like my theory the most.

Then again, in the Pokemon world, green among other colors are natural hair colors so Ghetsis may've had his hair colored green from birth as well as N.

Either way, you have your headcanon and you have mine.

There is one way to completely disprove the theory: in BW1, N truly believes Ghetsis is his father. If N was a Pokémon, he would be aware that they're not related. There you are. As simple as that.

That isn't necessarily solid proof. I believe that Ghetsis would've raised him as a human from birth; therefore, he has no recollection of being a Pokémon. His true identity was probably revealed to him between the events of BW1 and BW2, which is why he appears as a Zoroark in the sequels. Also, I could've sworn I read somewhere that N believes he was "born from Pokémon", which makes the statement about how he thinks Ghetsis is his true father (as well as my headcanon that coincides with it) sort of contradictory.

Originally Posted by matt0044

Originally Posted by VeggiePopper

Originally Posted by matt0044

Originally Posted by VeggiePopper

so, if his hair color was a dyejob, why maintain it when it is no longer necessary in B2W2?

Ghetsis either grew to like his look enough to keep it and/or it was permanent and he couldn't get it out, not that he really care that much. Yeah, it's likely my own bullcrap headcanon but my headcanon nonetheless.

Well, you do know that permanents are not actually permanent, do you? While they last long, there's no way Ghetsis' dye would last a whopping 2 years. So probably it would be your first option: he liked the color enough to keep it, but I still like my theory the most.

Then again, in the Pokemon world, green among other colors are natural hair colors so Ghetsis may've had his hair colored green from birth as well as N.

Either way, you have your headcanon and you have mine.

Their hairstyle is kinda similar to ignore even if we leave out the green color. Also, N looks like Ghetsis if you see their official game illustration. It could be just the sprite pixels, but still.

Originally Posted by Ahnyo

There is one way to completely disprove the theory: in BW1, N truly believes Ghetsis is his father. If N was a Pokémon, he would be aware that they're not related. There you are. As simple as that.

That isn't necessarily solid proof. I believe that Ghetsis would've raised him as a human from birth; therefore, he has no recollection of being a Pokémon. His true identity was probably revealed to him between the events of BW1 and BW2, which is why he appears as a Zoroark in the sequels. Also, I could've sworn I read somewhere that N believes he was "born from Pokémon", which makes the statement about how he thinks Ghetsis is his true father (as well as my headcanon that coincides with it) sort of contradictory.

So... according to you, your hypothesis and your back up points, N believes Ghetsis is his father because he "would've raised him as a human from birth" but at the same time "N believes he was 'born from Pokémon'", yet it is my theory -not yours- the one that contradicts itself? Yeah... No.