c150: Zorua
"(H-how… how did she know?)"
The little fox's crimson eyes went wide in shock when Chen Xiaoxiao called out its true name.
Chen Xiaoxiao, however, only smiled in amusement at the sight of Zorua still wrapped in its Pikachu disguise looking completely dumbfounded.
"You've managed to maintain Transform this long? That's pretty impressive," she said lightly, her tone almost praising.
Zorua puffed up immediately, pride flashing in its expression. "(Of course I'm powerful! Hand over the food or else I'll…!)"
The threat fizzled out mid-sentence. Its belly growled louder than its words.
Chen Xiaoxiao burst into laughter. "Pfft! Look at you. I give you a little praise and you already think you're legendary!"
In truth, its strength barely matched a low-level wild Pokémon. Judging by its aura, it was only around level 15. The only real advantage was its ability to disguise itself as Pikachu.
---
Hungry Fox
"(Seriously! Give me something to eat! I haven't eaten in two days—I'm starving!)"
Deciding she wasn't dangerous, Zorua lunged clumsily, trying to snatch the cube from her hand.
"Alright, alright! Here, eat slowly," Xiaoxiao relented, finally letting it have the Evil-type cube.
"(Delicious! I haven't eaten anything this good before!)" Zorua's tail wagged as it devoured the food, eyes sparkling.
"Didn't they give you anything when you were brought here last night?" Xiaoxiao asked curiously.
"(They did! But it tasted horrible like chewing rocks! I took one bite and my mouth went numb!)" Zorua huffed.
Xiaoxiao blinked, then smirked. "That's because you disguised yourself as an Electric-type, silly. Of course they gave you Electric cubes. If you'd revealed yourself as Dark-type, you wouldn't have suffered."
Zorua's ears drooped at the truth, but its eyes quickly lit up again. "(I want more!)"
"…Are you a pig?" Xiaoxiao groaned. "Don't you ever get full?"
"(But I'm so hungry!)"
Rolling her eyes, she sighed and exchanged another cube from the system.
"Eat, eat! If you burst, don't blame me."
"(Thanks! You're the best!)" Zorua chirped happily, gobbling again.
Yet halfway through, its pace slowed. Its belly bulged, the cube still half-eaten in its paw. The flow of dark energy overwhelmed it.
Chen Xiaoxiao snorted. "See? Already full."
Still, she patted its head gently. "Keep it. Eat later if you're hungry."
---
Mistaken Identity
From nearby, Xiao Zhao called out, "Miss Chen Xiaoxiao, be careful not to overfeed this Pikachu. It's already overweight. Too many energy cubes will make things worse."
"…Right, I'll pay attention. Thank you."
She smiled politely, but inside she was speechless. If only you knew this isn't Pikachu at all.
Zorua suddenly snickered, clearly entertained.
Xiaoxiao's face darkened. She squeezed the fox in mock punishment.
The staff watching all misinterpreted the scene. They chuckled kindly, whispering how close she seemed to be with "Pikachu."
Heh. If only they knew it's a fake, without even a spark of electricity to its name.
---
A Break Outside
Checking her Pokédex, Xiaoxiao noted the time, it was nearly eleven. She had been helping for over an hour, yet only a hundred Pokémon had been examined. This work would take the entire day.
"I'll take this one out for some air. Gardevoir, stay here and keep helping," she instructed.
"Yes, Miss Chen. It's dull work anyway," Xiao Zhao said with relief.
Gardevoir hesitated, torn between staying or following.
"Don't worry. I won't go far," Xiaoxiao reassured with a smile.
At that, Gardevoir nodded and returned to the evaluations.
Casting one last glance at Curator Lin still sprawled on the desk like a sleeping Snorlax—Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. Mina covered her face in embarrassment.
"Tell him when he wakes," Xiaoxiao muttered, then vanished in a blink, teleporting with Zorua in her arms.
---
Play in the Wilds
They reappeared in the fields just outside Goldenrod's outskirts, within Gardevoir's psychic range but far from prying eyes.
"Alright, down you go."
Zorua squealed in delight, shaking off its disguise. Its true form shimmered back: a small fox with dark fur and a crimson mane. Immediately, it bounded around joyfully, rolling in the grass.
Spotting a Caterpie, Zorua dashed at it, then transformed—suddenly there were two Caterpie. The real one shrieked and fled, leaving Zorua cackling.
"(Heehee!)" it laughed, returning to normal, then stuck out its tongue at Xiaoxiao.
"Come chase me!" it teased, sprinting ahead.
Xiaoxiao chuckled softly. "Outrun me? Try it."
Zorua dashed several hundred meters before glancing back. Xiaoxiao hadn't budged. Confused, it stopped, then flared with sudden malice. Dark energy surged from its body, rippling the air.
"Oh? Dark Pulse, a genetic move?" Xiaoxiao recognized instantly. She felt no real killing intent and simply stood, watching with amusement.
Boom!
The black wave slammed into the ground tens of meters ahead, leaving a small smoking crater.
Panting but grinning proudly, Zorua wagged its tail. "(Great, right? Come on—chase me!)"
Xiaoxiao smiled knowingly. The fox had talent, but its stamina was poor. Already it was trembling from exhaustion.
Before Zorua could boast further, Xiaoxiao's body flickered.
She vanished in an instant.
Zorua froze, eyes wide.
W-where did she go?!
---
Meanwhile, only a few kilometers away, a larger shadow stirred.
A Pokémon walked upright, fur gray like smoke, its long crimson mane flowing down its back. Sensing the faint Dark Pulse, its eyes narrowed.
Zoroark had caught the scent.
And it was rushing straight toward Chen Xiaoxiao's position.
---
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