The sun had only just risen over the eastern hills, casting long, golden shadows across the quiet farmland. Morning dew glistened like flecks of stardust on the leaves of the Oran bushes and Sitrus saplings. Riven stood silently at the edge of the field, watching the shimmer with quiet reverence.
Behind him, his Pokémon stirred—some slow, some energetic.
Today was not a day of fighting.
Today was a day of understanding.
Zorua was the first up, slinking into the morning light like a living shadow. Though it didn't flee, it hadn't come close since the previous evening either. The little fox Pokémon remained half in and half out of view, eyes constantly tracking Riven's movements from a safe distance.
Stufful woke next, stretching softly, nuzzling into Buneary's fluff. The trauma in its eyes hadn't faded, but a kind of curiosity had taken root. Sableye still lay in recovery—its eyes closed, shallow breaths slow but steady.
Riven exhaled and opened his System menu.
[System Update: Daily Quest Available]
"Earning Their Trust"Objective: Begin a personal bond test with one newly joined Pokémon.Optional: Include other Pokémon to aid in the trust-building exercise.
Reward: +50 FP, +1 Minor Stat Increase for Pokémon involvedBonus: Unlocked Memory Fragment (Zorua)
He tapped the glowing option beside Zorua.
[Selection Confirmed: Bonding with Zorua Initiated]
Riven knelt down in the grass just beside the field. He didn't call to Zorua. He didn't even look directly at her. He simply began digging at the soil near the Oran roots, brushing it lightly, humming softly to himself.
At first, nothing happened.
Then… rustling.
Soft pads against dirt.
Zorua's shadow came into view from the corner of his eye. Closer. Closer still. She stopped just short of the field, watching.
"I used to hate mornings," Riven said, voice low, calm. "Back when I had to wake up for jobs I didn't care about. Punching timecards. Slipping under fluorescent lights and losing myself for hours at a desk."
He dug a little deeper, planted a berry seed with slow, practiced movements.
"But this place… this quiet… feels real. I'm not sure how I ended up here, but maybe this is where I was always meant to be."
A gust of wind blew. Zorua sat down, now openly watching.
"I know it's hard to trust people. I'm guessing someone left you behind. Hurt you. Maybe used you."
He paused. Genuinely unsure what to say next.
"I'm not like them."
Zorua tilted her head.
Then, slowly… she stepped forward.
Just once.
Riolu Joins
Riolu, sensing the bond forming, emerged from the barn. It didn't say a word. Instead, it knelt beside Riven and began mimicking his farming motions. Dig. Place. Cover. Water.
Zorua stared. Something about that act—two beings working in silence, no command, no leash—seemed to reach her.
She padded forward again, carefully placing her paw near the soil.
"Want to try?" Riven asked softly.
He slid a seed toward her.
Zorua sniffed it… then gently pressed it into the hole with a single claw.
[System Notification]
Zorua's Bond Level increased. +10% Trust.Memory Fragment Unlocked: "Chased and Forgotten"
A shiver ran through Riven's body. A flash of her past surged into his mind—a brief vision, delivered through the System.
A town. A panicked crowd.A child sobbing.Zorua, running. Disguised as a Growlithe.Then revealed.Screams. Rocks thrown.And betrayal. Her own trainer… turning away.
The vision ended.
Riven swallowed the lump in his throat. "You deserved better."
Zorua stared at him for a long, long moment.
Then… she licked her paw, brushed dirt from her fur, and—shockingly—curled up near Riolu's side.
They worked together the rest of the morning.
After resting and breakfast, the party moved to the open training circle.
Riolu practiced its jab combos and evasive sidesteps while Shinx dashed through makeshift agility rings Riven had built from salvaged crates.
Even Buneary had joined in, testing her balance along a wooden beam.
Zorua didn't immediately join—but she watched with growing interest.
Riven set a simple agility trial aside: a zigzag path of trees and logs.
"Think you could do it faster than Shinx?" he asked casually.
Zorua's ears twitched.
Challenge accepted.
She vanished in a puff of smoke—Illusion—and reappeared at the start.
Begin.
She darted. Agile. Unnaturally silent. Shadow and blur. Shinx barked in surprise as she beat the course time by a full second.
[System Notification]Zorua's Agility stat +1New Minor Title: "Ghost Sprinter" awarded.
Zorua stood proudly, tail flicking.
Riven clapped softly. "Looks like we've got our speedster."
Sableye stirred before sunset.
Riven was beside him in moments, easing a cool cloth over his brow and dripping a few Oran drops into his mouth. The ghost-type blinked, groggy.
"You're safe. I promise."
The jewel-eyed Pokémon clutched his hand weakly.
[System Notification]Passive Skill 'Sanctuary Heart' activated.Wounded Pokémon's fear reduced. Emotional stability improving.
Behind him, Stufful approached slowly, placing a single paw atop Sableye's. The touch was brief, but symbolic.
These Pokémon had been abandoned.
But now, they were part of something more.
By the time stars rose again, the team had finished both planting and a full training session.
Everyone was tired, but fulfilled.
Riven sat at the edge of the field again, arms crossed, legs stretched out, Riolu beside him and Zorua resting just within reach.
"I don't know what's coming," he murmured. "But I do know this… I'll never leave any of you behind."
And for the first time since they met…
Zorua fell asleep at his side.