Pokémon: Breeding Simulator

By the wooden table.

Watching Elias sketch out plans for the three factions' reconstruction, Zoroark couldn't help feeling a pang inside.

"Elias, why don't you… let me handle this?" she asked quietly, lying down beside him.

She'd originally ordered the clan to move, hoping Elias could see how much she'd grown.

But in the end… everything had gone wrong.

Just as Elias was finally about to get some rest, he was dragged back into endless work because of her.

And she'd completely lost control over her own clan.

She didn't even know where they were now.

Everything that had happened left her heart heavy, with a tight, sour ache she couldn't shake.

Beside her, hearing Zoroark's suggestion, Elias set down his pen and paper.

With a soft sigh, he reached out, ruffling her fur.

"Leave it to me. Everything will be fine."

"You've been up all night. Go get some rest."

He knew exactly what she was feeling—and he had no intention of blaming her.

Even if… her order might have played a part in this whole incident.

"What about you?" Zoroark asked softly.

"I'll come find you once I'm finished," Elias replied gently.

Lucario was already resting. If Zoroark kept pushing herself, her mood would only get worse.

Seeing him insist, Zoroark could only nod obediently.

Still, she glanced at the stacks of paperwork under his hand and felt an odd sense of frustration.

This kind of work… really shouldn't fall to Elias.

"I'm going to check on that Zoroark," she said after a deep breath, requesting to leave for a while.

After getting his permission, she slipped quietly out of the building.

The camp still reeked faintly of burnt wood and ash.

The fires had long been put out, and most of the wounded were already being treated.

Walking slowly across the open ground, Zoroark looked utterly spent.

"It's Zoroark!"

Someone spotted her from a distance, their hand instinctively reaching for a Poké Ball at their belt.

"That's Lord Elias's Zoroark—it should… not be dangerous," another person quickly tried to calm their companion.

"Haven't you heard?"

"They say it was this Zoroark who led the second attack. Some people even saw her with their own eyes."

"No way…"

"Why would I lie?"

"Then… does that mean Lord Elias lied to us, too?"

Their whispered conversation carried easily on the breeze, sharp and clear to Zoroark's sensitive ears.

Her irritation deepened.

She bit her lip, forcing herself not to let her anger break free.

She could accept what they said about her. After all, the Zoroark did attack the settlements. Even if she was blamed for it, she wouldn't complain.

But…

The later part of their conversation—the suspicion directed at Elias—was too much.

This had nothing to do with him.

Even if it did.

She couldn't bear to see the person she cared about most being doubted and maligned by the very people she didn't like—maybe even despised.

With a heavy stomp, Zoroark vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

If she listened any longer, she wasn't sure she could keep her emotions in check.

This wasn't the time to make more trouble for Elias…

She ran all the way to the lakeshore before finally stopping.

She scooped up some water with her paw, feeling the icy cold bite against her skin, and exhaled slowly.

Still… she couldn't help being curious.

Scarlet glints flickered in Zoroark's eyes from time to time.

If only she could… she'd show everyone what a real disaster beast looked like.

Just as that thought passed through her mind, ripples suddenly spread across the surface of the lake.

Startled, Zoroark froze, then stood her ground, coldly watching the water's shifting reflection.

Sure enough, after a few seconds, Giratina's head emerged from the lake.

"Long time no see."

Its deep, gravelly voice carried across the water.

Zoroark spared it a sidelong glance, making no effort to respond.

"Just as I thought… Those Hisui people must've gotten under your skin, huh?" Giratina went on. "No, not just you… Your Trainer is probably furious too."

Zoroark stayed silent, and Giratina didn't seem bothered. It just kept talking.

"Your own Pokémon gets slandered, but he still has to keep the peace between the three factions—even work overtime to help them. He must have plenty of resentment building up too, don't you think?"

It had to be said: Giratina's words struck something raw inside Zoroark.

That's true. Elias was never the selfless type.

He'd helped the clans mainly for her sake, so she could live better among humans.

After everything that happened, he was bound to be upset, wasn't he?

Just picturing Elias in a bad mood made Zoroark's heart sink further.

"What are you getting at?" she snapped, waving her claws impatiently, glaring at Giratina.

A fat centipede that can't even set foot in the real world—the only thing it's good for is making her mood worse.

Giratina seemed to read her thoughts. Its irritation spiked for a second, but for the sake of its plan, it held back its temper.

"Hand me the Plates. Let me out, and I'll take care of those wretched Hisui people for you."

"They can't even handle a little trouble—maybe it's time they experience what real disaster is like," Giratina said, its tone coaxing and sly.

Zoroark narrowed her eyes.

She really ought to take the title of The Almighty Sinnoh for herself.

That way, no matter what she or the Zoroark clan did, no one would dare say a word.

Just as Giratina said—only those who survive a true cataclysm learn to cherish ordinary peace.

But…

She wasn't sure if she could actually beat Giratina right now.

There was still a real gap in power between them.

But the [Origin Ball] should be almost ready.

She and Elias had personally delivered the relic fragment for it just a few days ago.

"I'll give you my answer in two days."

Zoroark rose to her feet and said to Giratina.

Giratina gave a low, satisfied laugh and sank back into the Distortion World without another word.

For it, just one more little push would be enough—then Zoroark's last shred of reason would burn away completely.

"Be sure to treasure your Trainer while you can."

With that, Giratina left a final, ambiguous remark.

After all—

Only after a true, final parting do you realize how precious a peaceful life really was.

At least, that's how Giratina saw it.