Nothing in Sun and Moon ever once stated that Lusamine was under the influence of Nihilego toxins during the events of the game other than her fusing with it in the final battle. I do not understand why people keep passing that off as fact. Did Game Freak come out and confirm it recently?
To both Lolipiece and Shoz999
I can't blame you for not seeing it since Sun and Moon did a pretty bad job at stating it.
We only had Guzma's word at what it is like to have one of those things latch onto you. (He did not merge into something like the mother beast.)
Pre game notes on Nihilego redirecting priorities by altering the brain with their venom. As well as Wicke's report on what the venom does to people. (In fact most of the things regarding depth to Lusamine were ALL in easy to miss dialogue in the post game. All of that stemmed into bad writing and if Mohn was the sole factor to... all of that, then Lillie has even LESS logical reasons to want to save her. Which goes against the climax of that narrative telling us that Lusamine's recovery would be a good thing.)
While S/M did a very poor way of explaining Nihilego's influence, it is however better explained in another source connecting to Gen 7
US/UM and how it did its take on her character, where her villainy was toned down a couple notches for what seems to be no reason until you compare and contrast the two Lusamine's.
I'll copy what I debated in a previous forum, since it list all of the differences and similarities.
1. During your first visit in Aether Paradise, Nihilego shows up in a wormhole. Nothing different happened in either games until after you defeat it, then Lusamine talks to herself about getting something back.
In S/M she flashes an evil smile and talks about protecting/ loving Nihilego. Then starting being vague on what is going on down at the labs, Wicke admitted that it may have not been an accident for the wormhole opening up.
In US/UM, that evil smile does not happen and the URS show up to explain their part in assisting Aether. In contrast, Lusamine is MORE open to what was happening down at the labs, they were doing an experiment that didn't work as intended, Wicke treats it like it was an accident.
2. Next, when you go rescue Lillie. Lusamine in both versions verbally talked down on her, in S/M she had an enraged snarl on her face, showing hate. In US/UM, she had a disappointed/ hurt expression. In S/M, the verbal abuse continues at its worse by saying Lillie wasn't beautiful and told Lillie to stay around and watch her summon the beasts, knowing it might kill Nebby. In US/UM, she called Lillie's behavior unattractive and talks about still wanting to protect her from Necrozma. In S/M, Lusamine taunts Lillie more about forcing Nebby to use its power whether it wants to or not, with more cruel words; in US/UM Lusamine still said that using Nebby's power will kill it, but if it is for the greater good, it will have to be done. Then she leaves to her freezer closet with parting words. S/M it was more cruel taunting with a cruel smile. While in US/UM Lusamine gave Lillie credit where it is due for keeping Cosmog safe and thanking her with a more genuine smile. (To Lusamine, the words are more kind, when they come out... it is basic villain cliche, thanking the hero for doing something for them.)
3. Now for the confrontation in the freezer room. In S/M, Lusamine rambled about how Nihilego must be suffering in Ultra Space and thinks letting it out to do what ever it wants to Alola would help it, while screaming at her kids for stealing her stuff and betraying her. Saying that they no longer matter to her, she even taunts in how many wormholes will open up if she used the whole Cosmog.
In US/UM, she rambles how she can't love those close to her if the light is stolen, taking it upon herself to go fight Necrozma. In her childrens pleas, specifically when Gladion mentions Mohn Lusamine acknowledges the memory of what happened that day as her excuse to go after Necrozma by herself. Despite like in S/M, she called her kids wretches for leaving her, she is still determined to protect them from Necrozma. With the intended goal of using Nebby to make just one wormhole that she might have control over.
In S/M she used the box without hesitation, taunts Lillie more and use it to open the wormholes with psychotic glee. Only caring about Nihilego, ordering Guzma that she doesn't want to hear from the annoying kids again and wants to silence (Potentially a homicidal metaphor.) you the player. In US/UM she hesitates to use the box and when Nebby resists, she gave praise to Cosmog for its love of Lillie and was rather happy that her kids grew up away from her eyes. But still bound to her self appointed duty, does not want anyone to interfere and challenges you the player to silence any worries her kids might have for her, by proving how she can fare in battle. (This one, is not a homicidal metaphor.) Post battle, she gives a praise to you the player, has Guzma come along with her because she wouldn't be fighting Necrozma alone, then uses the Nebby box with no sign of joy in it.
In S/M, she was acting on her most extreme without the moral inhibitor called a consciousness, while rambling about the Ultra Beasts or specifically, Nihilego. (Every single symptom of being on the venom as we heard from Wicke.)
When in US/UM Lusamine was much more tame while having other priorities on her mind that was more around getting revenge on the Beasts than anything like we saw in the previous game, in fact in US/UM she isn't even homicidal or on the wall insane. (Still a couple screws short, which came from losing Mohn.)