Mr. Nuzleaf you are not the first mon to betray a human in some way but honestly speaking here you took the kid in provided for him and only resulted to harming the kids as a last resort, while being manipulated and later on controlled by, as we would say, an old eldritch horror. Sure it was a trick, but like it or not you could not have faked all the time you spend with your boy and the feelings that developed, otherwise you would not be the Leafdad we know today. That is at least my hot take.
“That does... make me remember something. A faint, faint memory.”
[ Luciano: “I... I don’t know who you are... but I know what’s happened to you.” ]
[ Luciano: “Please... you have no idea what’s really going on.” ]
[ Luciano: “You’re good Pokémon, I’m sure.” ]
[ Luciano: “I can help you. Snap... out of it...” ]
[ Nuzleaf: “Ha! Help us with what? I’ve heard enough!” ]
[ Nuzleaf: “Hmph. That’s that, then.” ]
[ Beheeyem: “I kind of surprised myself there. I worry that might have done some permanent damage.” ]
[ Nuzleaf: “What’s that s’posed to mean?! I swear, if you killed that human, it’ll be on your sorry head!” ]
[ Beheeyem: “No, I don’t think any of my regular attacks could kill someone. I mean damage to his memory. Memory loss.” ]
[ Nuzleaf: “...Tell me more.” ]
[ Beheeyem: “Shouldn’t we be heading to Revelation Mountain, sir?” ]
[ Nuzleaf: “Just start talkin’! I think I have an idea.” ]
“The hold Dark Matter had on me makes them memories fuzzy, but... I do believe our original plan was to take Luciano out and bring him straight up the mountain to force him to break the spring’s barrier. Like I said, I don’ remember much of that time, but there were moments of clarity. Like when I looked down at Lu’s body when he was unconscious... it was like my old self slipped through some crack. I felt like I was half asleep, all I knew was that there was a child there, I was talkin’ to some bad sorts, the voice that had been tellin’ me what to do was deafenin’ now and whatever I was doin’ wasn’t good. I think I came up with that idea for the ruse thanks to that last bit of the real me still hangin’ around. The entire thing prolonged our plan for months and those months I had Lu in my house kept those moments of clarity comin’. After the fact, I can only guess my own mind was stronger or Dark Matter was getting weaker because of him. Either way, Dark Matter ended up winning and, well... y’all know the rest. But I won’t deny that I... I think you’re right.”