Chapter 23:

The Illusion Mother

Location: Nimbasa City

Well, today was the day to say goodbye to Zorua. We barely knew each other, but we were aware that the goodbye was coming.

With Zorua on my team (Tranquill was in the PC), I went east out of Nimbasa City to head for Lostlorn Forest.


Location: Route 16

Route 16 is a road with the Lostlorn Forest running alongside it. At the other end was the entrance to Marvelous Bridge, but I wasn't going there.

First, I needed to battle a bit. A Cyclist spotted me and rode up.

"Hey, I need to give my legs a break. Let's give my spirits an exercise!"


Hilbert Vs. Cyclist Hector

"Pansear, go!" I shouted.

"I choose Whirlipede!" Hector said, sending out the sentient tyre. "Use Poison Tail!" Whirlipede whacked Pansear with its tail, poisoning it in the process.

"Pansear!" I yelled. However, it scratched its head, confused. Not the status condition, no. It was like it had just forgot, everything.

"Now Venoshock!" Whirlipede threw some sludge at Pansear. Venoshock is a move that deals twice as much damage when the opposing Pokémon is poisoned, but Pansear hung on! Did its Sp. Defense raise?

"Wait, Pansear. You forgot about what happened raising your stat… Amnesia! Nice one! But let's focus on offense rather than Defense. Flame Burst!" Pansear fired a flame that exploded upon impact. Deciding enough was enough though, I recalled Pansear for Drilbur so it could take a Poison Tail. "Okay Drilbur, use Metal Claw!" Drilbur swiped Whirlipede, delivering the final blow.


"Well, not bad! Okay, my spirits are in check again. Let's get back to the legs!"

And I needed to get back to the Center briefly.


One healing trip later, and I was ready to enter the Lostlorn Forest. The entrance to the forest was large and dark, darker than Pinwheel that's for sure. Despite being autumn, the leaves were green and fresh. I didn't know what was up with this place, but I was about to find out.


Location: Lostlorn Forest

I walked across a wooden bridge over a fast river. There was some tall grass with a stump. Not much here, but after the tall grass was a clearing. The trees here were also lush green, unlike the gold, red and brown autumn leaves that I was use to seeing on my journey.

"Zorua's mother must be around here somewhere," I said, as I sent out Zorua for the second and last time. Zorua started looking around; every leaf it seemed to have a familiarity with. "Zorua, welcome home. Now, do you know where your mother is?"

Zorua's head pointed north to a trailer. A trailer wasn't even there before hand; this forest was giving me the creeps. Did its mother live in there? There was only one way to find out.

The two of us walked over to the trailer. I was about to knock on the door when a backpacker opened it. He had a white shirt, cargo shorts and a big blue backpack.

"Hey, listen!" he said. "The Lostlorn Forest is no place to play. Whack stuff goes on bro." He then noticed Zorua by my right foot. He gasped heavily, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Well, I don't blame him for that as Zorua is a rare Pokémon. "Zorua?" he asked. "Oh, my goodness, you were taken away from those goons!"

He knew everything. "May I come inside to talk?" I asked.

"No no, everything's fine!" he quickly replied, putting out his hands blocking me from coming in. "I'll wait with Zorua till Zoroark arrives."

Zoroark. So that was the name of its carer and I presumed its evolved form. I didn't feel safe about Zorua until I knew it was returned. I swiftly refused.

"No. I would like to meet Zoroark in person."

Leaves started blowing all around me. It was like the forest was getting angry.

"Give. Me. Zorua." The man snarled.

"NO!" I yelled. "Where is Zoroark?! It's going back to her, no one else!"

The man started yelling. The green figment on the leaves all turned autumn gold, the trailer disappeared and the man started to transform into the figure that was in Zorua's dream; it was Zoroark.


Zoroark (ゾロアーク)

077

Dark Type

Illusion Fox Pokémon

5'03" (1.6 m)

178.8 lbs (81.1 kg)

Each has the ability to fool a large group of people simultaneously. They protect their lair with illusionary scenery.

Zorua -Lv 30- Zoroark


Zoroark made another copy of the man in front of her in order to talk.

"Are YOU trying to take my son away from me to?!"

"No!" I yelled. "I'm trying to return Zorua! I don't work for those goons or Team Plasma or anyone! I only caught Zorua to return it to Lostlorn Forest!"

Zoroark suddenly jumped at me. I covered my eyes, expecting the end.

But I wasn't attacked. Zoroark instead stopped just before its red claw reached my face, and was gasping for air. Zorua ran up to her and crawled onto her leg, barking concerningly.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"She's getting tired."

Looking behind me, I saw the Sage that was chasing Zorua in the dream. He had a friendly smile on his face. Too friendly even. Let's just say seeing a Team Plasma member like this was off.

"Who are you?" I asked, as Zorua ran up to him happily. It started rubbing its fur on his right foot as Zoroark walked over, also happy. "Okay Zoroark, what's going on? Why are you so buddy buddy with Mr. Liberate over here?"

Zoroark once again made the illusion of the Hiker. "This is Rood. He was a mentor to my childhood friend."

"Indeed," Rood said. He didn't seem menacing like the other Sages. He was rather down to earth. He seemed like someone I would want to have coffee in Nacrene City with. "Zorua, look how big you've got. Zoroark, you have done a wonderful job raising Zorua through your age."

Zoroark continued to pant heavily. I looked at the image on the Pokédex compared to the real-life counterpart; Zoroark's hair was a bit greyer compared to the reference image.

"May I ask," I said, though I wasn't 100% on board with a Sage being nice. "Who was this childhood friend of Zorark's?"

Zorua went back over to Zoroark, and they hugged.

"Natural Harmonia Gropius, but we call him N."

"WHAT?!" I said. "You don't mean…"

Rood nodded. "That's right. Zorark was N's childhood friend when it was a Zorua. He was picked up at age 7 when Zorua finally evolved a few levels later than others. It's since raised a child, but I'm afraid Zoroark's time is limited. She can only look over Zorua for so long."

I saw Zoroark and Zorua continuing to talk. "What are we to do?" I asked. I couldn't believe that I was working with the enemy here, but was I though?

"Zorua," Rood said. "Once Zoroark has passed away, you can come live with me. Maybe a Trainer will take care of you. Meet me in Driftveil City."

"I'm confused! Isn't Team Plasma's goal to liberate Pokémon from their Trainers?"

Rood stroked Zorua's fur. "Not everyone."

Just then, we heard talking from the entrance.

"This is the entrance to Lostlorn Forest aye?"

"Yeah, where is Rood?"

"Team Plasma," Rood said.

I was concerned, but also confused. A Sage hiding from Team Plasma? What kind of Sage was he?

Zoroark smiled, then suddenly turned into a light green Pokémon with a large tail. It had two tusks that were red and black in colour.

"A Haxorus!" Rood said. "That'll scare them off!"

Zoroark in its Illusion form ran out. There was screaming and running off. Zoroark came back, panting.

"Easy Zoroark, easy. You did a good job." Rood petted her red-grey hair. "I think we should leave. I know a secret way out, so you don't have to come with me. You go through the normal entrance."

I looked at Zorua and Zoroark. "Be good for me and Rood okay?" I told them, still confused as to what I just said.


Location: Route 16

With that job sorted, it was time to head back to Nimbasa City. But first things first, I went through the tall grass. I trudged on through and came across a new Pokémon.

This Pokémon was black and white. It had a pink face and large round eyes. It had a white bow on its neck.


Gothita (ゴチム)

080

Psychic Type

Fixation Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

12.8 lbs (5.8 kg)

Their ribbonlike feelers increase their psychic power. They are always staring at something.


"Go Scraggy!" I shouted. "Headbutt!" Scraggy headbutted Gothita. It then started slapping Scraggy with a DoubleSlap. "Why don't we give an Ultra Ball a try?" I threw the black and yellow ball and watched it shake once, twice, a third time and then click shut! Gothita was mine!

"Alright!" I shouted. When one door closes, another door opens.


Zorua has been returned to its mother and I had, a surprising encounter. I thought aside from N, Team Plasma were pure evil, but it seems that Rood is the pure heart. Plus, I have a new friend by my side! Anyway, tomorrow I head away from Nimbasa City to my next destination; the port of Driftveil City!