"You…"
"What, going to refuse?"
Sora smiled faintly.
"The great guardian of the Nebel Plateau… afraid of a challenge?"
"What nonsense!"
"Just a human!"
Volcanion flared up in anger.
"Co at if you dare! I will never lose to a human!"
"Roar—"
Sora didn't push further.
So things required restraint.
Besides—
There was movent from Lilligant's side.
Magearna, who had sensed the battle, had co.
"Magearna!"
Volcanion clearly realized sothing and began struggling again.
But with Ursaluna pinning him down, he couldn't move at all.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt her."
Sora stood up—
Just as he saw Magearna being brought over by Lilligant.
The little chanical girl stumbled as she ran.
Clumsy as she already was, seeing Volcanion lying there—
She rushed forward without hesitation, trying to shield him from Sora.
"…Now I really look like the villain."
"Ponii…"
Even Ogerpon scratched her head awkwardly.
Fortunately—
Magearna was far gentler than Volcanion.
She had the ability to sense emotions.
After the initial panic faded, she quickly read the hearts around her.
No hostility…
Everyone… is kind.
Once she confird that—
Magearna turned back to Volcanion and carefully examined his injuries.
Though covered in wounds—
He wasn't in danger.
"Doo-doo~"
She seed to understand.
Volcanion must have lashed out first, attacked Sora's group recklessly, and gotten defeated.
"Harming others is not good behavior."
As she spoke—
Magearna conjured a bouquet and pointed the flower's center right at Volcanion's nose.
"—!!"
Pollen shot in.
Volcanion's nose instantly itched—
"ACHOO!!"
A loud sneeze erupted, blasting out a cloud of smoke.
"Cough—cough—!"
Kimia coughed violently, startled, thinking Volcanion had exploded again.
When the smoke cleared—
Magearna politely bowed to Sora, apologizing for Volcanion's actions.
"Magearna, you…"
Volcanion looked utterly aggrieved.
He had been trying to protect her…
"And that's how it should be!"
Sora had Victini continue restoring Volcanion's energy and praised her:
"Look at Magearna—such a polite, well-mannered girl."
"You—!"
Now partially recovered, Volcanion stood up and glared at Sora.
But he didn't attack again.
Despite his temper—
He wasn't stupid.
Sora had defeated him, yet didn't capture him.
He showed no malice toward Magearna.
And now—
He was even healing him, his forr opponent.
No matter how you looked at it—
Sora was the one attacked without reason.
Volcanion was the one in the wrong.
"Hmph!"
"Even so—you're still human."
"The Nebel Plateau does not welco humans!"
Even as he said that—
He made no move to drive Sora away.
Clearly, he was just being stubborn.
"I won't argue with that."
Sora replied calmly.
"Trainers who abandon Pokémon are worse than trash."
Before coming here, he had already researched the plateau.
The Pokémon here had every reason to resent humans.
And Sora had no intention of defending them.
Those who abandoned Pokémon—
Didn't deserve to be trainers at all.
"Ponii…"
"Vini…"
Seeing Sora's mood dip, Ogerpon, Victini, and Lilligant quickly ca to comfort him.
Watching the harmony between Sora and his Pokémon—
Magearna showed a hint of envy.
Even Volcanion realized—
He had acted too rashly.
Yes, so humans were cruel.
But others, Like Sora—
Treated Pokémon as family.
You couldn't condemn all humans for the sins of a few.
"Hmph… follow ."
Finally, sowhat acknowledging Sora—
Volcanion took the initiative and led him and his Pokémon toward his cave.
Kimia, regarded as Sora's companion, was allowed to co as well.
As for the other Pokémon—
They didn't approach, nor did they leave.
Instead, they stayed by the lake, beginning to clean up the battlefield.
Soon—
The group arrived inside the cave.
Volcanion, now mostly recovered, lay down again.
Beside him, Magearna curiously observed Sora and Kimia.
"Human."
Volcanion spoke first.
"What is your purpose here?"
"That challenge you ntioned…"
"You intend to capture , don't you?"
"That's right."
"I refuse."
Volcanion rejected him without hesitation.
Earlier, he had been blinded by anger.
But now—
He couldn't leave.
Magearna needed him.
How could he go?
"Is it because you protect the Nebel Plateau?"
Sora asked.
"Or because of Magearna?"
"…Magearna."
There was no hesitation.
After 500 years together—
Magearna ant more to him than the entire plateau.
"In that case…"
Sora turned to Magearna.
"I'll make another proposal."
"Magearna—"
"Would you like to join my team with Volcanion… and go see the outside world?"
"You—!"
Volcanion imdiately flared up, steam bursting from his body.
"Human, you're despicable!"
But Sora didn't back down.
"I'm asking Magearna."
"Are you planning to keep her by your side forever?"
This ti—
Volcanion fell silent.
If it were anything else, he would've argued to the end.
But when it ca to Magearna.
He was like a father reluctant to let his child go.
And for the first ti
He had no answer.
—------------------------------
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