"Well… it's not impossible."
Dylan rubbed his chin as he looked down at the fallen Unbound Hoopa.
After the relentless beatdown, Hoopa was in terrible shape—especially from that Bug Buzz from Stellar Terapagos.
It had taken a huge toll.
Now, Hoopa lay flat on its back, barely breathing. Its six severed arms were sprawled across the ground. If it weren't for the flicker of red light still glowing in its eyes, one might've assumed it had already fainted.
"Dylan, what should we do with this guy?" Terapagos asked, tilting its starry head.
"Its power is a bit… too dangerous," it added, despite its usual easygoing nature.
After all, what Hoopa had just done was unheard of—it had summoned six legendary Pokémon and even managed to mind-control them with its resentment.
Who'd believe that if you told them?
A being full of dark hatred, armed with terrifying abilities—leaving it unchecked could bring disaster.
Unbound Hoopa still looked like it was barely clinging to consciousness, but its red, menacing gaze remained locked onto Confined Hoopa.
The oppressive malice was almost tangible.
"What do you all think?" Dylan asked, raising a brow.
Terapagos tilted its head and frowned, clearly troubled.
Confined Hoopa also scrunched up its little face, conflicted. Put it back in the prison bottle? But that wouldn't work—the bottle could no longer fully seal Unbound Hoopa.
In fact, anyone who touched the bottle would risk being consumed by Hoopa's lingering rage.
"We could just wipe it out," said Dusk Mane Necrozma casually.
It didn't see the dilemma.
In fact, Necrozma didn't think Hoopa was that tough to deal with—if it unleashed its true power, it was confident it could defeat Hoopa alone.
"Eh?! No way!"
Confined Hoopa zoomed forward, adamantly objecting.
"Why not, Hoopa? Feeling attached?"
"It's my power… and even if it's been awful, we can't just erase it, right?" Confined Hoopa faltered, its voice soft and hesitant.
It didn't know how to put its feelings into words. Dylan had already said that Hoopa's hatred came from being locked in that bottle for over a century.
Confined Hoopa couldn't imagine what that kind of darkness and solitude felt like… but it couldn't bear to see it destroyed.
Unbound Hoopa heard those words. The red glow in its eyes flickered more intensely.
"In that case," Dylan said gently, "why don't you handle it, Hoopa?"
"Me?" Confined Hoopa blinked.
How was it supposed to handle this? It had no power. Unbound Hoopa could crush it with one punch!
"Don't be afraid. It is you—and you are it. Don't you get it yet?" Dylan said, glancing at Hoopa.
"That resentment—it's your own. Born of your power. It may have been forged in a century of darkness and loneliness, but you can't run from it."
"Because it is you."
Confined Hoopa froze.
"It hates you, yes—but that's exactly why you need to face it. Show it the life you've lived. Let it see everything you've experienced… and answer it."
Dylan smiled, gently encouraging it.
This kind of pain, this depth of hatred—only Hoopa could resolve it. Because in the end, they were one and the same.
In the movie, Confined Hoopa had shown Unbound Hoopa its beautiful memories, dissolving the darkness within it.
That was proof enough.
"…I understand!"
Confined Hoopa clenched its tiny fists. It had to face this. It didn't care if it had no power—after a hundred years, it had learned to live without it.
Losing that power was sad, sure. But it was just that—sad, not unbearable.
But seeing Unbound Hoopa destroyed? That, it couldn't accept. Because it was a part of itself.
Confined Hoopa's eyes firmed. It floated toward Unbound Hoopa.
"Disappear!!"
The moment it approached, Hoopa's furious roar thundered out. Its eyes blazed red, its malice like a wave that made Confined Hoopa's body tremble.
It had once felt that power. The endless abyss-like darkness that had once made it cower in fear.
But not now.
"I won't!!"
"Disappear!!"
"I don't want to! And I don't want you to disappear either!"
Confined Hoopa shook its head, raising its small hands. A multicolored psychic glow emerged.
This was all the power it had left. But it wasn't for fighting.
Instead, it used its psychic ability to project images in front of Unbound Hoopa—memories of its life in the Valley of Creation.
Scenes of joy with Meray, Baraz, and other friends—playing, laughing, sharing gentle moments.
Unbound Hoopa froze mid-attack.
"Looks like we're good," Dylan said, satisfied to see Hoopa no longer attacking.
In the end, sincerity was the ultimate trump card.
"Incredible…" Terapagos reverted to its turtle form and hopped into Dylan's arms, amazed.
Even it had felt Hoopa's overwhelming malice… and yet now, it was fading?
"Bonds and friendship… the most mysterious forces in this world," Dylan shrugged, turning away. He didn't need to keep watching.
As Hoopa's malice receded, so too did the red light in the eyes of the mind-controlled legendaries.
Origin Giratina, still locked in battle with Calyrex, suddenly froze mid-attack as its gaze cleared.
Wait—who am I? Where am I? What's going on?
Giratina looked around, visibly confused.
Nearby, Dialga and Palkia stirred from where they lay battered on the ground.
The pain was real—and so was the memory of what just happened.
Realization dawned.
Giratina's expression darkened. It had been manipulated into fighting…?
What a disgrace!
But—
It glanced at the unconscious Dialga and Palkia beside it… and its fury cooled.
Useless brothers! As always—it's up to me!
Giratina puffed up with pride. Among the three of them, it had held out the longest!
Clearly, it was the strongest of the Origin Trio!
Dialga? Trash.
Palkia? Even worse!
"…You awake?" Little Rayquaza asked cautiously, noting that Giratina wasn't attacking anymore.
"…"
Giratina gave the Mega Rayquaza a long look, then nodded coldly.
"Mom!!"
Little Rayquaza brightened and dove down toward its mother.
"Are you okay?" it asked anxiously, seeing Black Rayquaza slowly lift its upper body. Its gaze was once again calm—clearly, it was no longer under Hoopa's influence.
"I'm fine. Heh… it's been years since I've taken a beating like that. Honestly? Felt kinda good."
Black Rayquaza's voice echoed in their minds, faintly amused.
It had been a long time since it fought so hard—and it had enjoyed it.
Rayquaza were a proud and combative species. And Black Rayquaza… was among the most battle-hungry of them.
"You've grown strong, Little Green. I'm proud," it said, inspecting its child from head to tail.
"I've been working really hard!" Little Rayquaza beamed, tail wagging with joy.
"…Now, care to explain what's going on with your colors?"
"!!!"
Little Rayquaza froze, glancing down.
Its painted-on dark color had chipped and peeled off in patches, revealing its natural green beneath. Now it looked… very festive.
Red and green everywhere. Way too "colorful."
"Mother… I can explai—"
"Heh heh heh… this is human dye, isn't it? Little Green, have you forgotten how I raised you?"
Black Rayquaza floated upward, its aura flaring with terrifying pressure. Green sparks danced over its pitch-black scales.
Its voice grew dangerously amused.
Little Rayquaza's scales nearly stood on end.
"Wait, wait! I can explain! And weren't you too injured to move just a second ago?"
"Hmph. Just a scratch. A short rest was all I needed. And today, dear child, you will understand the pride of the Rayquaza bloodline!"
In Little Rayquaza's eyes, his mother's eyes gleamed with red light again—exactly like earlier.
No, even scarier now!
"No, Mom, please!!"
"You get back here, brat! Dyeing yourself red, of all colors! What's that supposed to mean?! You ashamed of my beautiful black scales?!"
"Dylan, help! She's gone crazy again! I swear her mind's still controlled—come fight her for me!!"
"Heh heh heh…"
(End of Chapter)