"Gar...Gardevoir?"
Noticing Gardevoir's actions, Elias swallowed involuntarily, cautiously calling her name.
Could it be... she really was angry about Zoroark?
He had his doubts, but from his understanding of Gardevoir, anger wouldn't look like this.
Instead, Gardevoir's expression now seemed more like... excitement.
As if she was anticipating something?
As if confirming Elias's thoughts, Gardevoir teleported right beside him.
Before Elias could react, her delicate hands rested on his shoulders.
"E-Elias," she breathed softly, clearly nervous. "I heard... there's a special way for trainers and Pokémon to quickly deepen their bond."
"Let...let's give it a try."
Without giving Elias any room to refuse, she spoke decisively.
"A method to deepen our bond?"
Elias froze momentarily, eyes widening slightly in realization.
Given Gardevoir's current state, even if he was dense, he could guess her intentions.
"Gardevoir, wait...wait a second."
But before Elias could gather his thoughts, Gardevoir's hands on his shoulders started moving restlessly.
Faced with her relentless approach, Elias's mind spiraled into chaos.
Hearing Elias speak, Gardevoir lowered her head slightly.
Her blue bangs fell forward, covering her eyes.
She tried to pretend she hadn't heard him, but ultimately, she obediently halted her movements, hands still resting gently on his shoulders.
"Is it...really not okay?"
She asked softly, voice as fragile as a whisper.
This hesitation from Elias was exactly what Gardevoir had always feared.
Despite growing up by his side, confident in her own charm, and knowing Elias had always doted on her…
She still wasn't sure if his affection was just the bond between trainer and Pokémon, or if it contained something deeper—something she'd always longed for.
Sensitive to emotions as she was, she had no confidence in this matter.
Now stopped by his hesitation, fear and uncertainty flooded her heart.
Maybe… maybe I should just forget it.
Rarely, Gardevoir felt herself shrinking back.
But... this could very well be her last chance.
Once they left the Distortion World, with those fools around, she'd never have another opportunity like this.
Finding strength in this realization, her hands tightened again, gently yet firmly.
Before Elias could speak again, she silenced him decisively.
"Mm—!"
Elias's eyes widened in shock at Gardevoir's actions.
For the first time, he intimately felt the unique fragrance of flowers radiating from her.
A sweet, intoxicating scent filled his senses, threatening to overwhelm his thoughts completely.
Thunk—
Using [Psychic], Gardevoir gently pushed Elias down onto the bed she'd prepared with her powers.
Having come this far, there was no turning back.
Taking a deep breath, Gardevoir's gaze grew resolute.
...
...
...
Though fragmented, parts of the Distortion World still had transitions between day and night.
Currently, where Elias and Gardevoir were staying had gradually descended into darkness.
Gardevoir walked alone through the broken terrain, her small face conflicted.
Afterwards, she'd done everything she'd intended.
And it had turned out to be even more enjoyable than she'd imagined.
Yet... after regaining clarity, she'd panicked and immediately teleported away.
Now she didn't dare go back.
Such anxious and fearful emotions were something she hadn't felt in a long time.
"It's getting dark," Gardevoir murmured softly.
Entering the so-called "sage mode" she'd read about, she finally realized just how impulsive she'd been earlier.
And Elias still hadn't come looking for her, meaning he must be upset.
She needed to figure out how to apologize...
Troubled, Gardevoir rubbed her head vigorously.
Her blue hair became slightly tangled, but her anxiety showed no signs of improving.
What should I do now...?
Helplessly crouching down, she mumbled quietly to herself.
Yet just as the words left her lips, an inexplicable chill ran through her body.
It felt as though something frightening had locked onto her.
Pushing her worries aside, Gardevoir quickly rose, scanning her surroundings.
It was only then she realized—she'd somehow wandered into the berry grove she'd previously discovered.
She had deliberately avoided entering before out of caution.
But now, distracted by her inner turmoil, she'd unwittingly stepped inside.
"Better go back first."
Gathering her psychic energy, Gardevoir prepared to leave.
At that exact moment—
Swish—
A pitch-black claw lunged out suddenly from the shadows before her.
Reacting swiftly, Gardevoir unleashed a [Psycho Cut] to defend herself.
BOOM!
The collision created a deafening shockwave.
Forced back several steps, Gardevoir glanced down at her pale hand, seeing a shallow yet noticeable wound.
In that brief exchange, she'd been at a disadvantage.
Realizing this, Gardevoir's eyes widened in disbelief.
Had she somehow fallen behind?
First Giratina, and now this mysterious Pokémon she'd yet to even glimpse—
Both had managed to overpower her.
Given her current strength, encountering such overwhelmingly powerful foes should've been almost impossible.
As the smoke cleared, the feeling of being watched intensified.
Gardevoir lightly grasped the [Mega Stone] around her neck, preparing herself to escape.
Whoosh—
Another swift attack cut through the air.
Just as she raised her hand to counter, a strong arm suddenly encircled her waist.
In an instant, Gardevoir found herself back in the familiar clearing, safely away from the grove.
"It's late. Why aren't you asleep? What are you doing wandering outside?"
Elias folded his arms, feigning irritation as he stared down at Gardevoir.
Running off right after getting what she wanted—such behavior definitely deserved criticism!
Slumped on the ground, Gardevoir blinked blankly as she realized it was Elias who'd brought her back.
Especially after clearly hearing his reason for being upset, her sadness vanished entirely, replaced by quickened breathing and a sense of excitement.
Wait...does this mean Elias has accepted what we did?
Gardevoir couldn't quite believe the implication.
At the same time, back in the berry grove, a white silhouette emerged silently, stepping into the spot where Gardevoir had vanished.
---
Gardevoir: I've already won too much!
---
T/N: THEY FUCKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED?
"Translator chained me here and told me to write something clever. Consider this your mandatory reminder that if you enjoyed the chapter, you can toss your precious Powerstones into the void—every 100 of them forces out one extra chapter, like wringing blood from a stone. 100 = 1, 200 = 2, 300 = 3… you get the picture."
"If you're feeling dangerously generous (or just want to peek ahead), there's also a Patreon: patreon.com/wisetl. Allegedly, it's "voluntary support," but let's not kid ourselves—you're here for early chapters."
"That's all. Now leave me be." —Angelica Ainsworth