Nero the Greninja

Nero is a male Greninja, the father of Splash. He is the cruel leader of the Outsiders, and rather sadistic, taking obvious pleasure in taunting Splash and brutalizing his enemies.

--

Personality: Nero is cold, cruel, calculating, and very brutal. He really only cares about himself, as he is more than willing to beat his own subordinates, including his own sons. He is also very arrogant and self-confident, deeming his own followers weak. Nero was originally friends with Tai the Mega Charizard Y, but after an incident in their youth, Nero fell victim to the demented(and untrue) belief that Tai betrayed him. It's possible that Nero's vicious demeanor stemmed from his own treatment from his own father, Shuri, who treated him the way Nero treats his own followers. In his more recent antagonistic roles,(The Legend of Fox the Brave: Dawn of the Alliance, Zorro's Tale) Nero has gained an obvious level of sadism, proven when he betrays Nightclaw and prevents him and Zorro from returning home, and when he brutally attacks and beats Fox to the point that he is incapacitated. This is further evidenced by the fact that when Fox is held prisoner, Nero continuously beats and mocks Fox, kicking him savagely every time he tried to fight back. As of recently, however, Nero's aggression has noticeably dropped, especially since being freed of Sonic.EXE's control

--

Allegiance:

Current: The Outsiders

--

Past: Nero was once an innocent Froakie in a group known as the Outsiders. Nero bore witness to the killing of Tai's parents, Morocco and Maya. He spoke out against it and got hit as a result. Despite his father Shuri's disapproval, Nero befriended Tai. The pair were close friends up until they were Stage 1, in which Tai caught Nero stealing something, and had him imprisoned because of it. Though his jail-time only lasted 6 months, Nero quickly fell into madness, believing Tai turned against him. When he was released, Nero attacked Tai and nearly strangled him to death. Luckily, Nero caught himself before he killed his own best friend, and left in shock, their friendship over. Nero told Shuri about his attempt on Tai's life, being praised because of it. After that, Nero fell deeper into his hatred of Tai, especially since Tai-now a recently evolved Charizard-caused Shuri's death. Nero, now a Greninja, was now the leader of the Outsiders, and his father's death cemented his hatred of Tai and his group, who were beloved by everyone else. Despite his enmity with Tai, Nero still found time to pursue a relationship with a female Frogadier named Nya, who lived in the Megastone Rogues and was close friends with Tai. Nero often mocked Tai regarding Nya, as Tai was determined to keep her safe from Nero, seeing as he was downright cruel. Still, Nero ended up becoming the father for two sons, Clamshell and Splash. During an attack on the Megastone Rogues' camp, Nero kidnapped all the Young Ones of the group, including Clamshell and Splash, and Tai's sons Pyro and Flare. Despite his group's determination to fight back for the Young Ones, Tai was willing to negotiate, hoping to rekindle the old friendship between him and Nero. Nero, however, wanted to keep his sons, and though reluctant, Tai gave up Clamshell and Splash to get Pyro, Flare, and Tyrantrum Tyrone's sons Grunt and Runt back. Deeply upset by this, Nya left both groups, renouncing allegiance to either of them. Tai was hurt by this, and blamed Nero for it, claiming his arrogant ways drove her off. Nero simply shrugged this off, claiming she was too blinded by caring for Clamshell and Splash to see where they truly belonged: with him(at least, to him). Over the moons, Clamshell treated Splash much like Nero did the other Outsiders. Finally, Clamshell disappeared, leaving poor Splash to deal with his father's rage himself. Because of his father's tendency to fly into vicious fits of rage, especially regarding Tai's Megastone Rogues, he leaves a terrible wound on Splash's face when the young Frogadier asks him to be nicer towards Lorre, Cori, Blaster, and Bolt after the four lose to a Megastone Rogues patrol. Later, Nero is enraged to find Splash fled after fully recovering from the wound that becomes Splash's signature scar. When next they meet, Splash finds the courage to evolve into Greninja(which he had been avoiding to hopefully avoid being associated with his father). Nero is impressed and tries to get Splash to rejoin him, but his angered at his son's refusal. At the same time, Nya is there, and as a result, is killed when a fight breaks out between the Outsiders and the Megastone Rogues. Splash is angered by his mother's death, and fights viciously against his father, winning. Furious at his loss, Nero flees. After that, Nero creates many more problems, especially after the Megastone Rogues ally with the Storm Fighters to create the Storming Alliance, and after Tai's death at the hands of Sonic.EXE.

History:

In the Legends of the Megastone Rogues Series:

Tai's Travels, Pt 1: Nero starts out as the friend of Tai, an orphaned Charmander. However, when Nero is jailed for a crime, he goes mad, nearly strangling Tai. After that, becomes the second main antagonist of the story, after his father.

Tai's Travels, Pt 2: Nero remains the main antagonist here, responsible for the death of Nya, his own mate, and deems his son Splash a coward for rejoining the Megastone Rogues.

Zorro's Tale: Nero doesn't appear very much, but is the main antagonist, being responsible for sending Lorre to take Zorro-separating the Zorua from his family-and later betraying Nightclaw when they find Zorro.

Nero's Vengeance: Nero is the main character of this prequel story from his POV. In the final chapter, Enemies Forever, Nero has an argument with Sonic.EXE(unnamed, since Pokemon in that series don't know who he is), with the demonic hedgehog adamant that Tai betrayed Nero.

Silver's Escape: Nero returns as the main antagonist, kidnapping Silver and Leah after Murray betrays his Village. Silver is able to sense that Nero was driven mad by a demonic being, and flees. Nero chases after him and witnesses Silver's evolution into Lucario, but is driven off by the arrival of Cobalt's patrol. He later battles Rogue Squad, fighting Silver, but losing due to his Type-disadvantage.

Nero's Madness: In the prologue, it is revealed how Nero went mad because of Sonic.EXE. In the main story, Nero starts out as the main antagonist, putting "Operation: Storming Rage" into action to kill Fox after trying to weaken him with Wilder Fox's betrayal, but this fails. Overall, Nero is the secondary main antagonist while Sonic.EXE is the true main antagonist, due to being the one behind everything.

In The Legend of Fox the Brave:

Dawn of the Alliance: Nero returns as the secondary antagonist. He at first is believed to be the main antagonist, but he simply sets the plot for the true main antagonist, Shatter the Chesnaught.

--

Quotes:

Splash: "I think you should be nicer to them."

Nero: "You want me to be nicer to them!?"

Splash: *nods hesitantly*

Nero: "Newsflash: Niceness doesn't get you anywhere in these Worlds! You must be strong, fierce! Do you understand me?"

Splash: *nods*

Nero: ''"I don't think you did!" *smacks Splash* "I said do you understand me!?"''

Splash: *wails* "Yes!"

Nero: ''"You better have!" *uses Water Shuriken, wounds Splash's face*''

Nero and Splash arguing, Nero's Vengeance

--

Trivia:

Much like the Roman emperor of the same name, Nero is very uncaring of his followers/subjects, preferring to save himself. His sons are the polar opposite of him.

Nero was originally to be named Vero, but a typo happened, and the name stuck. The name Vero has been given to one of Nero's ancestors, who lived during Redstone's time.

Nero and Splash are polar opposites: While Nero is cold, cruel and generally uncaring, preferring to save himself before his subordinates, Splash is willing to help others, and is friendly and caring.

Nero has a Light Dimension counterpart that, while his past is largely the same as his Prime Zone counterpart's, is actually much more benevolent and kinder. This is because of the fact Sonic.EXE does not exist in the Light Dimension, and therefore, Nero never went mad because of him.

There is a bit of confusion regarding Nero's Ability; In both Tai's Travels, Pt 1 and Nero's Vengeance, he is said to have Torrent as a Froakie, but is said to have Protean as a Greninja. A Pokemon with a main Ability in all of its forms does not change its Ability.