"A deal?"
Zoroark blinked at Giratina's words, then narrowed her eyes slightly.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I don't hate the humans here."
She only hated the ones who badmouthed Elias.
Still, even if what Giratina said wasn't entirely true, it was close enough to make her wary.
After all, the shadowy dragon had nailed at least half her thoughts.
Giratina didn't argue when Zoroark refuted it. It simply paused, then continued in a low voice:
"I can help you wipe out those wretched humans you despise."
"In return… I just need your help collecting a few stones. That's all. What do you say?"
Giratina remained confident in its judgnt.
No matter what Zoroark said aloud, it had sensed resentnt in her heart—resentnt toward the two clans.
That emotion wasn't fake.
Now that it had extended an olive branch, she'd have a hard ti resisting.
She'll co around, Giratina thought smugly.
And, in fairness, when she'd heard that first offer, Zoroark's heart had skipped a beat.
But not in the way Giratina expected.
It wasn't that she wanted to destroy anyone.
No, Giratina's words had triggered a sudden realization:
Isn't this the major disaster I've been waiting for?
If she let this Pokémon stir up chaos across Hisui, and then stepped in to defeat it…
Wouldn't she beco the new High Sovereign of Sinnoh?
That thought lit a fire in her chest.
But the fire didn't last long—it was quickly doused by reality.
This Pokémon looks way too strong. I probably can't beat it.
And the request it made… made her suspicious.
"Stones?" she asked. "You're looking for Plates too?"
Zoroark imdiately thought of Regigigas's earlier request.
It was obvious this Pokémon was after the sa things.
Giratina, for its part, paused slightly at the question.
Too?
Was there soone else asking them to collect Plates?
One of those dumb ti-space dragons?
Or… Regigigas? Arceus itself, even?
Several theories flashed through Giratina's mind.
At the sa ti, its suspicion solidified:
So the others have already begun moving.
And it—stuck in the Distortion World—was once again a step behind.
"What did that Pokémon offer you?" Giratina asked. "Whatever it was, I can top it."
"I'll give you better rewards. I guarantee it."
It inhaled sharply, trying to sound sincere.
If it wanted to catch up, it had to offer sothing worthwhile.
"No thanks. Elias makes those decisions, and he already agreed to help soone else."
"I'm not working with you."
Zoroark shook her head firmly.
She'd already noticed sothing: this Pokémon looked scary, but it clearly had its hands tied.
It hadn't even shown its true form.
And that ant she didn't need to worry.
With that, she dusted off her paws and started walking back toward the house.
"Wait!"
Giratina panicked.
Based on what she'd just said, it sounded like the human inside—the one chosen by Arceus—was the one doing the Plate collecting?
So Arceus was behind it after all.
That bastard really is watching !
"I'm not saying I need the Plates right now!" it hurriedly explained. "I just an…"
"Can't you consider as a backup option?"
"If the Pokémon who hired you ever turns on you, I could take over the mission. I'd still give you rewards. Isn't that a good safety net?"
Giratina swallowed its pride and forced the words out.
For the sake of future victory, it could endure this humiliation.
After all, without Plates, none of my attacks can touch Arceus.
Only once they were on equal footing would a real battle even be possible.
To its surprise, Zoroark actually looked thoughtful.
She couldn't beat Giratina now—but that didn't an she never would.
One day, she'd grow stronger.
Or maybe she'd discover its weakness.
Then she could enact the plan she'd been dreaming of.
"…Alright then," she said at last.
"If I ever need you, I'll co find you."
With a casual wave of her paw, she turned and padded back toward the house.
Watching her leave, Giratina didn't feel angry—only relieved.
It hadn't gone perfectly, but considering how late it had entered the ga, securing a backup role was honestly more than it had expected.
Stupid Volo...
If not for getting caught up in that guy's sches, it might've noticed what was going on in the surface world sooner.
Before leaving, Giratina left behind a cursed charm on the table—imbued with power that boosted Ghost-type moves.
If they were going to work together, it had to show so sincerity, after all.
...
"Elias, are there any Pokémon that can appear in reflective surfaces?"
Zoroark asked the mont she walked back inside.
Elias, in the middle of folding his clothes, paused slightly.
"Pokémon that show up in mirrors?"
He repeated her question, looking puzzled.
It wasn't the kind of thing he expected her to ask out of nowhere.
"It's fine if you don't know," Zoroark added quickly, waving a paw dismissively.
But she noticed Lucario, standing off to the side, had suddenly frozen in place.
Then, with a jolt, he turned and stared straight at her.
"You saw it too?"
"Red eyes," he added, gesturing with his hands.
He'd been using that Pokémon as a ntal training opponent all day—the thing had left a serious impression on him.
Realizing what Lucario ant, Elias's expression shifted.
So Zoroark had… encountered Giratina?
Zoroark hadn't ant to keep it secret. Noticing the way the two of them were staring at her, she nodded and explained:
"Yeah. It showed up in the table."
"It wanted Plates. I didn't say yes."
As she spoke, she glanced at Elias—like she was waiting to be praised.
Elias reached over and patted her head.
But his brows furrowed.
So Giratina wanted the Plates too. Just like Regigigas.
But...
Why would a creature that powerful calmly sit down and negotiate with Zoroark?
The more Elias thought about it, the less he understood Giratina's behavior.
"In the future, steer clear of Pokémon like that."
He finally gave her a quiet warning.
At least for now, Giratina hadn't acted hostile.
It had shown up twice and hadn't hurt Lucario—or Zoroark.
"Got it," she replied obediently.
---
[That night, while checking Zoroark's cleaning work, you and Cogita found the cursed charm left behind on the table.]
[It even ca with a smooth little river stone pressed underneath, so it wouldn't feel sharp to the touch.]
[After Cogita explained the charm's effect, you were even more confused.]
[Was Cynthia wrong about this Pokémon being savage and cruel?]
[Because honestly… this didn't feel that nacing at all.]
---
T/N: wombt attoo of girantina mmgphh
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