Pokémon: Breeding Simulator

As the smoke dissipated, Giratina hovered in midair, staring into the distance where Zoroark had fled.

Just like before, Zoroark's attacks had barely scratched it.

But what surprised Giratina was that the fox had managed to withstand its own attack as well.

For a mere Zoroark to block an [Ancient Power] from the master of the Distortion World—that felt deeply unsettling.

Giratina's excitement gradually settled, but it didn't pursue.

After all, it had already locked onto the fox's aura; she could run wherever she wanted, and Giratina would still find her.

Letting her flee for now was no issue.

It had other business to attend to—exactly as it had stated earlier.

—Destroying the three settlements of the Hisuians, especially the two clans.

Giratina had never underestimated these humans blessed by Arceus. Who knew if that damned llama had left behind hidden tricks?

Destroy the clans first, gather the remaining Plates next, then finally challenge and defeat Arceus.

This was more its style.

Having made its decision, Giratina twisted its body and flew up into the night sky.

The Pearl Clan first, it thought.

...

After escaping Giratina, Zoroark raced straight home.

As she ran, she reached up, touching her eyes to find them wet with tears.

She didn't know how she would explain things to Elias later.

Even less did she know how Elias would react.

Would he be angry with her for the first time? Would he abandon her, no longer let her be his Pokémon?

Or perhaps…

Various scenarios flashed through Zoroark's mind, each making her steps heavier.

Fear brewed inside her, far stronger than when she had faced Giratina.

What worried her most was that Elias wouldn't want to flee with her.

Cogita wasn't home, Cynthia and Lucario hadn't returned yet, and Irida was still at the Pearl Clan settlement.

What if Elias, worried about them, refused to leave with her?

Just the thought made Zoroark feel suffocated.

Carrying this heavy dread, she finally arrived at the house.

Slipping inside, Akari was still asleep under her illusion.

The house remained a mess, exactly as she'd left it earlier.

Yet her heart now felt worlds apart from then.

When she reached Elias's bed and saw him sleeping peacefully, Zoroark sighed in relief.

She leaned down, hugging him tightly.

Only the familiar, comforting scent from Elias calmed her fears somewhat.

Being near him again relaxed her tense nerves slightly.

When Giratina had threatened Elias, she'd felt her heart skip a beat.

At least he's still safe…

After a few moments, Zoroark reluctantly pulled away.

After brief hesitation, she decided to lift the illusion.

Worst case scenario... he'll abandon me.

Zoroark's claws hovered over Elias's face, her own expression filled with anxiety.

But after a moment…

That anxiety shifted abruptly into panic.

She couldn't wake Elias.

She realized suddenly that she'd lost control of her illusion, unable even to sense what was happening inside.

When did this happen?

Zoroark's eyes filled with alarm.

In her rush to escape earlier, she'd failed to notice exactly when she'd lost control of the illusion.

Did Giratina do something?

Her eyes darted quickly to Akari.

But the illusion there remained completely under her control—only Elias was affected.

"Why…? Why?"

"Elias, wake up!"

Panic overwhelmed her.

She gently shook Elias, desperately trying to wake him.

But it obviously wasn't working.

Thud—

Suddenly dizzy, Zoroark sank to the floor.

Anything but this... please, nothing happen to him.

...

Meanwhile, within the illusion…

Elias frowned, puzzled, looking around.

Just moments earlier, the entire illusory world had collapsed.

Houses, trees, sky, and earth shattered like mirrors around him.

Zoroark, who had been wrapped around him, had also vanished without a trace.

Did something happen to Zoroark? Elias thought gravely.

The rapid collapse clearly indicated Zoroark losing control of her illusion.

Just as he considered forcing himself awake from within the illusion—

—a dazzling white light suddenly enveloped him.

Elias closed his eyes from the brightness, cautiously reopening them only when the glare dimmed slightly.

Before him stood a strange creature.

Completely white, encircled by a golden ring—resembling... a llama?

The radiant glow came directly from its body.

These features immediately brought clarity.

"Arceus?"

Elias called tentatively.

"Oh?"

"You know me?"

Arceus, who'd been considering how to approach, sounded mildly surprised.

Its voice resonated gently, carrying a subtle divine echo.

Seeing Arceus confirm his guess, Elias now found himself startled.

The reason he'd recognized it was mostly due to... Regigigas's description of the llama-like deity. Besides, that golden ring matched Akari's Arceus communicator.

But…

Is this really Arceus? Not another prank by Zoroark?

Reading Elias's skeptical thoughts, Arceus's expression stiffened slightly.

Then, gently tapping its hoof to the ground—

—the surroundings instantly shifted into pitch darkness.

Around Arceus floated a circle of Plates, emanating powerful energy of various attributes.

The potent aura emitted by these complete Plates clearly wasn't something mere illusions could replicate.

"Do you believe me now?"

Arceus gave Elias a faintly impatient glance.

Once Elias nodded, Arceus took two deliberate steps forward, sharp eyes fixed upon him.

"Then, intruder, tell me—where exactly have you come from?"

Compared to before, Arceus's voice now held a biting sharpness.

---

T/N: yes suffer zoroark