[Pokémon: Zorua]
Type: Dark
Gender: Male
Ability: Illusion
Moves: Scratch, Leer, Hone Claws, Fury Swipes, Confusion
Friendship: 0
Pokédex Record:
Year 146 of the Kingdom: Zorua was born.
Year 147: His parents perished in a clash with other beasts, leaving him to survive alone.
Year 148: He was attacked by a Beartic, and on the verge of death, saved by the human girl Anna.
When Raven agreed to let Anna bring the Zorua back to the settlement, the number of his subjects changed from seventy-eight to seventy-nine.
That Zorua had now become part of his domain.
Watching Anna with the little fox perched on her shoulder, a bold thought stirred in Raven's heart.
Dratini was still far too weak, incapable of real combat. It would take a long time before it grew strong enough to protect others.
Clearly, his strength alone wasn't enough.
This land needed more trainers—more people who could bond with beasts and command their power to defend the domain.
What if… he took Anna as his apprentice, teaching her what he knew about Pokémon and trainers?
Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon.
Its evolution, Zoroark, excelled at deceiving foes with illusions and delivering deadly strikes in the chaos.
If this Zorua grew, it would become a formidable ally.
The idea tempted Raven greatly.
But then, he noticed the Zorua stiffen, tension running through its small frame. Its gaze locked sharply in one direction.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked, startled by its sudden change.
The answer came a moment later.
A massive shadow lunged from the darkness, slamming a knight to the ground.
Under the moonlight, cruel ice claws flashed and raked across the man's arm.
"Ahhh!"
The knight's scream tore through the night.
"A beast!"
Lyon's voice rang out, and weapons were drawn in an instant.
By the torchlight, Anna saw the attacker's form—and terror washed over her.
"It's that beast!" she cried.
Beartic. A savage, carnivorous predator, radiating a terrifying aura of power.
This one was far stronger than most.
Raven's brow furrowed.
"Protect His Highness!"
Lyon charged, sword in hand, slashing at the massive white beast.
But his blade only left a shallow scratch on Beartic's thick hide. The blow hadn't pierced at all.
The next moment, Beartic opened its jaws. A blast of icy breath erupted, freezing Lyon's sword solid in an instant. Frost raced up the blade toward his hands.
Lyon's eyes widened in horror.
"Dratini—Twister!"
Dratini unleashed a cyclone of draconic energy, the wind howling as it slammed into Beartic's side.
"Everyone! Get the wounded out! Fall back while fighting—I'll hold it here!" Raven ordered sharply.
His gaze never left the beast. The Twister hadn't hurt it much at all.
"Your Highness!"
But how could Lyon, a knight, abandon his liege?
Gritting his teeth, he attacked again despite the frost climbing his blade.
This time, Beartic gave him no chance.
"ROAR!"
The bear's bellow shook the air as its claws smashed against Lyon's weapon. With brute force, the iron sword snapped like a twig.
Lyon froze, stunned—then was hurled aside by a savage strike.
The other knights swallowed hard.
This beast was overwhelmingly strong.
Like a white demon, Beartic rampaged among them, its claws and fangs harder than steel. One by one, the knights fell.
Within mere breaths, only Raven and Anna still stood.
Beartic lowered itself, growling, then charged Raven.
His face hardened.
"Dratini—!" he tried to call, but too late.
The beast's bulk slammed into him. Raven and Dratini were flung through the snow, crashing painfully to the ground.
"Ughhh!"
Dratini fainted outright. Raven's body burned with pain; he could barely move.
Through blurred vision, he saw Beartic turn—toward Anna and Zorua.
Anna's leg was injured. She couldn't run.
She could only watch in terror as the white beast loomed closer.
"N-no…" she whimpered.
But then—a small figure stepped forward, standing between her and the monster.
Zorua.
"Y-you… no, run!" Anna begged desperately.
But the little fox only stared at Beartic, eyes blazing with resolve.
Even though fear gnawed at its heart—even though it had once been mauled to near-death by this very beast—this time, it would protect Anna.
A surge of dark power erupted from its body, violet-black energy flooding the snowy night.
The world dimmed.
Shadows swallowed the forest.
Then came a glow—an eerie, crimson-purple light flickering in the dark.
One. Two. Three…
One by one, ghostly figures emerged from the shadows.
Until a whole pack surrounded Beartic, each radiating sinister strength.
Beartic froze. Wariness flickered in its eyes. It glanced about, surrounded by countless predators.
And then, with a snarl, it turned and fled.
"…What—" Raven's mind reeled.
But in the next heartbeat, he understood.
To protect Anna, Zorua had awakened its ability—Illusion—conjuring an entire tribe of Zoroark to terrify its foe into retreat.
As Raven gazed at the trembling girl and her fox, a powerful feeling welled in him.
Yes. This was the bond of the future—how humans and Pokémon would live together.
You saved me, so I will fight with all my strength to protect you—even at the cost of my life.
(End of Chapter 14)