The Zoroarks at Sunset
Chapter 3: Before the Battle
The Saloon was filled with all of the young Pokemon of Master Ball City. All of them were running up to Zorua, patting him on the back and shaking paws with him, as he enjoyed his new Pecha Berry milkshake. They were all praising him for his awesome victory that mirrored the awesomeness of Zorro himself.
"Hey! I'll bet that his mom is super awesome!" a Charmander said.
"Yeah! Zorro's really in for it now! Ha-ha!" a Wyenot shouted.
Meanwhile, Zoroark, Deputy Shaymin, Sheriff Combusken, Raichu, and Mayor Buizel were having their own conversation.
"I'm not sure if Zorua copying Zorro is a good thing," Buizel said, "Quite frankly, this Zorro situation isn't good for any of the children."
"I don't know," Combusken said, "I mean, they're just having fun-."
"And Zorua is dominating! Oh yeah!" Shaymin shouted, only to be silenced by an icy glare from Mayor Buizel.
"They shouldn't be driven to fighting like this!" Buizel said.
Raichu chuckled and said, "But they weren't fighting to harm each other. They weren't even all fighting. Zorua and Pichu were just settling the whole spilled milkshake dispute. It was just a little challenge among friends, and boys will br boys anyway."
"Hmmm... Well, you haven't said anything Zoroark. What's your opinion?" Buizel asked.
Zoroark looked around at everyone and smiled. "Actually, Zorua idolizing Zorro is a vital part of my plan in helping him after I defeat him."
"How?" Buizel asked.
"You'll see eventually, but for now, just chew on this," Zoroark said with a mysterious smile and a twinkle in her eyes, "How could Zorua not want to be just like Zorro? Now, I must go and get ready for the upcoming battle."
Zoroark got up and walked over to talk to Zorua.
"That question didn't make any sense at all," Combusken said, "I wish she would just tell us plainly."
"Let's think," Raichu said, "Why should Zorua admire Zorro?"
"Because he's awesome!" Shaymin said, "In kind of a mysterious, sad way..."
"Well, yeah, but there's got to be a bigger reason," Mayor Buizel said.
"They're both the same species of Pokemon," Raichu suggested.
"Hmmm... close, but there still needs to be more," Buizel said.
"Well, I guess we're just gonna have to wait until the battle at sunset," Combusken said.
The Pokemon of Master Ball City were all hidden within the buildings and peeking out through windows at the street as sunset began to draw near. This battle promised to be the greatest and most epic of them all. Two Zoroarks, male and female, were going at it. One, a tortured soul with a mysterious past. The other, a great warrior and heroine who sought to set the tortured soul free of the past that haunted him. However, whether they knew it or not, this battle would also determine who the true master of illusions was.
Zorua stood near the Saloon door along with Shaymin, Raichu, Pichu, Treeko, Sheriff Combusken, and Mayor Buizel, who were all watching the street.
Zoroark had told Zorua to wait there, and to "not in Mew's name" move or come out or even speak until she called for him to come out, no matter how the battle was going.
"Why does Meema want me to come out when she calls?" Zorua thought, "She can take Zorro. No matter how incredibly cool and awesome he is, I'm sure that Meema's better. She's tough! But still, something about Zorro, it's like what I feel when I look at Meema. I don't understand why, but..."
Zorua sighed, and then he made a determined face and snickered, "Whatever," he said, "Meema's gonna win. I know it!"
"You bet she will... I hope... I mean she will! Heh-heh..." Shaymin said nervously.
As the sun began to slowly creep downward toward the horizon, Zoroark began to walk down the street. She could already hear the sobering sweet music of the ocarina ringing out towards her.
Zorro cam toward her out of the setting sun. He stopped playing momentarily and began to sing his song:
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
When Zorro started playing again, Zoroark began to sing the chorus with a rich, melodious voice:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Zorro froze and immediately stopped playing. His ocarina fell from his mouth in surprise and hung from the chain round his neck. After a minuted of dead quiet, during which Zorro just stared at Zoroark, he smiled sadly and said, "So, we have been reunited."