Pokémon: Breeding Simulator

While still replaying her conversation with Giratina, Zoroark made her way back to the temporary room she shared with Elias.

"Where did you go just now?"

Elias's tone was tinged with worry as he watched her return.

Zoroark's mood looked as stormy as ever…

"I went to check on the captured clan member," Zoroark murmured, settling down beside him.

Elias glanced at her.

She was lying.

He'd just stopped by the holding area himself—not a sign of her there.

But seeing she didn't want to talk, he didn't push it.

"Try to rest a little. In the morning, once your clanmate wakes up, everyone will question them together about the attack."

"As long as it's clear you weren't involved, there's nothing to worry about."

Elias offered the reassurance gently, after a moment's thought.

"And the clan…?" Zoroark hesitated, then asked quietly.

"If it turns out others can't accept them, I'll find somewhere else for them to live."

Hisui was a vast land—Elias had never planned to confine the Zoroark to one place forever. The only reason he'd settled them so close was to ease tensions between Pokémon and humans.

Zoroark nodded softly.

If things went the way Elias described, it wouldn't be the worst outcome.

She probably wouldn't be able to follow him in and out of the settlements so freely anymore.

But…

As long as she could live by his side, that was enough.

Still, it was obvious Elias was glossing over some consequences—like those hateful rumors she'd overheard earlier.

"When will Cynthia be back?" she asked after a steadying breath.

"Cynthia? A few more days, I think. Why are you asking?"

Elias sounded surprised.

Zoroark had always been the one wishing Cynthia would disappear; now, she was suddenly asking about her?

"No, it's nothing, just curious," Zoroark replied quickly, shaking her head.

What she really wanted was for Cynthia to take a look at that relic fragment she'd found, to be sure it was genuine.

But since Cynthia was gone, she'd just have to wait…

---

[After running all night, Zoroark finally began to feel the exhaustion. Leaning against you, she drifted off to sleep in no time, not waking until the sky was fully bright.]

"Let's go. Your clanmate is awake now," Elias said, gently wiping away the dampness at the corner of Zoroark's eye. "They'll be holding the questioning soon."

"Mm."

Zoroark gave a drowsy grunt, then slowly pushed herself upright.

She reached for the pen Elias had left on the table; feeling its lingering warmth, her face darkened slightly.

Elias… did he stay up all night again?

---

[After getting ready, you brought the heavy-hearted Zoroark out to the open ground.]

[Representatives of all three factions had gathered again, with a crowd of Pearl Clan members watching from the sides.]

[Inside a metal cage sat the smaller wild Zoroark, nervously glancing around and huddling into herself.]

"Elias," Irida greeted quietly when she saw him.

The others followed suit, but as they noticed Zoroark at his side, they all unconsciously took half a step back.

"You haven't questioned her yet?" Elias asked, nodding toward the caged Zoroark.

"Not yet. Would you like to, Mr. Elias?" someone suggested, not missing their chance.

After a night to cool down, most people realized Elias's Zoroark probably wasn't involved—after all, if she'd actually attacked, the whole settlement would've been flattened in an instant.

Besides, their clans still needed Elias's help in the future; it was better to stay on his good side.

Elias didn't refuse.

With everyone watching, he approached the small Zoroark, his own partner following close behind.

"Can you tell me what really happened last night?"

"Don't worry—once you explain, I'll let you go. No one's going to hurt you."

He crouched by the cage, voice as gentle as possible, even releasing a calming wave of [Aura].

Off to the side, Zoroark narrowed her eyes.

[Aura] is supposed to be my exclusive treatment…

But now wasn't the time to get jealous—she just had to wait for her clanmate to clear her name.

Inside the cage, the wild Zoroark seemed to relax a little at Elias's warm aura.

The clan leader's Trainer… he's so kind…

But then she shuddered, remembering that terrifying Pokémon from the night before.

Yesterday, the whole clan had suddenly gone berserk—just like what happened once in the Alabaster Icelands.

She was lucky to wake up, only to find herself caged.

And yet…

That terrifying Pokémon hadn't let her off. Instead, it had shown up to threaten her—using her own siblings as leverage.

It had even mentioned the clan leader, who wasn't affected by the hypnosis…

Thinking about all this made her tremble even harder.

"Don't be afraid. Trust me," Elias soothed, noting how frightened she looked.

He couldn't help but wonder what she'd seen to be this shaken.

Hearing his voice, the wild Zoroark seemed to calm a little, though her eyes were still clouded with indecision.

If she told the whole truth, every Zoroark—including their leader—would be in danger. That other Pokémon's aura felt far more menacing than even the clan leader's.

But if she lied… would it bring trouble to the leader and her Trainer?

Wrestling with her thoughts, she finally made up her mind.

Outside the cage, Elias saw the struggle on her face and felt a creeping sense of dread.

"Wait—" he tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

"Last night… it was the leader's order," the little Zoroark confessed, voice barely above a whisper.

In that instant, Elias felt a chill run down his spine.

The Zoroark at his side—the one he knew so well—her presence instantly turned ice-cold.

When he turned, he met her gaze: those familiar, yet suddenly foreign, eyes glittered with frozen fury.

---

T/N: sigh... out of all the simulations Zoroark is def my least favorite pokemon out of them... she's just... a mutt.