Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [55]

"Why?"

Hearing Elias's voice, Latias, who had been lost in thought, blinked in confusion.

She didn't understand why Elias would suddenly tell her to go out less.

As expected, Tias immediately asked for an explanation, and Elias hesitated.

After extensive observation and research, he was now almost certain of Tias' true identity as a Pokémon.

He even had a strong suspicion about what species she was.

But the reason he had never brought it up was simple—Tias, for some unknown reason, clearly didn't want to reveal the truth.

If Tias didn't want to talk about it, Elias wasn't going to force her.

To him, whether she was human or Pokémon didn't matter. She was the one who had raised him—his mother, the person he was closest to.

But…

Now that he knew a well-equipped group of poachers was in the area, the unease in his heart made it impossible not to warn Latias.

And to do that, he had no choice but to explain why he didn't want her leaving the house.

With Tias' sharp instincts, there was a good chance she would realize that he already knew her secret.

Elias didn't want to trouble his mother with such concerns.

When he remained silent for too long, Latias seemed to sense something.

Her body trembled slightly, and the arm wrapped around Elias tightened as if afraid he would suddenly slip away from her.

Staring at the star-filled sky outside the window, Latias' emotions grew increasingly chaotic.

Ever since the Pokéblock incident, she had realized that as Elias grew older and more perceptive, it would become harder and harder to conceal her true identity.

By now, he had probably already started to suspect that she wasn't human.

At this thought, Latias bit her lip, torn between whether or not she should confess the truth.

After struggling internally for a long moment, she sighed softly and leaned in close to whisper in Elias's ear:

"Elias, what do you think about lies?"

She was testing him.

Elias, who had been waiting for her response, was momentarily surprised. After a brief pause, he answered:

"I hate lies." He spoke bluntly.

Because it was true—lies created misinformation and blinded people from the truth.

In many crucial situations, even a small lie could change the outcome of everything.

Hearing his firm answer, Latias' face paled in the darkness.

She suddenly had the urge to run—to flee back to her little nest on the secluded island and never set foot in human society again.

That's right.

She was afraid.

Just as Latias' body trembled and she debated whether or not to escape, Elias's voice rang out again:

"But… not all lies are bad. If the intention isn't malicious, then I don't mind them."

Lying was a survival instinct for intelligent beings.

Elias understood this, so he didn't hold a negative view of so-called "white lies."

More importantly… he had a vague idea of why Tias was asking.

He hoped this would encourage her to be honest with him.

Hearing his words, Latias' trembling gradually subsided.

As long as there was even a sliver of hope, she wouldn't leave him.

But…

"White lies, huh?"

She repeated the words softly, amber eyes clouded with uncertainty.

Was what she had done really just a white lie?

To her, a mother keeping her child by her side forever, deliberately hiding the truth from him—

That… didn't seem like something she could justify as a "harmless" lie.

---

[In the end, Latias couldn't muster the courage to confess her identity.]

[You felt a hint of disappointment, but you didn't push her. The next day, you both acted as if nothing had happened.]

[Life continued peacefully for a long time. Milotic's strength steadily improved, and your bond with Tias only grew deeper.]

[At the same time, information about the poachers gradually disappeared. It seemed like they had already left Rustboro City, and everything was returning to normal.]

[However, on your ninth birthday, the one thing you dreaded most finally happened.]

Dusk.

Elias walked home alone after school.

Ever since Steven had left for the Kalos region, he had barely had any friends at school.

His increasingly peculiar personality had all but guaranteed his isolation.

The only good news was that he had recently met a younger schoolmate named Cuckoo.

The two of them got along fairly well—perhaps she could become his new friend.

Unfortunately, she lived in the opposite direction from him, so they couldn't walk home together like he had with Steven.

Aside from that, Steven had sent word that he would be returning soon.

He even told Elias to look forward to his starter Pokémon, saying it was something exceptionally rare.

Given Steven's family background, anything he considered "rare" had to be something truly special.

Elias couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Lost in thought, he arrived home.

But the moment he reached the door, an ominous feeling crept up his spine.

Normally, Tias would be waiting for him at the entrance, wearing her cute patterned apron.

The moment she saw him, she would greet him with a warm forehead kiss, right on time.

But today, the doorway was empty.

The eerie silence surrounding the house felt suffocating.

Taking a deep breath, Elias told himself not to overthink it.

There had been times before when this happened—maybe Tias had overslept, or maybe she was busy with something.

—Like watching TV or snacking.

Clinging to that thought, Elias gently pushed open the door.

He didn't even change his shoes.

Crossing the entryway, he walked straight into the living room.

But the moment he took in the sight before him, all his attempts to reassure himself shattered.

The once neat and orderly room was in complete disarray.

Cabinets and furniture had been knocked over, strewn haphazardly across the floor.

The walls bore scorch marks from fire, and psychic energy residue crackled faintly in the air—evidence of a fierce battle.

Every detail screamed the same thing.

Tias had been attacked.

"Tias…"

Elias's face turned deathly pale.

---

T/N: sheeeeeeeeeet cliffhanger

...

If you're reading this, then you've wandered all the way to the end. I'm impressed. Stories are like wine—meant to be savored, not rushed. So if you took your time? Thank you.

Of course, the real thanks goes to WiseTL—the one who turned tangled words into something beautiful. I just got asked to wrap things up with a ribbon. Hopefully this counts!

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Go on. Be generous. They've earned it.

Until next time—read well, rest often, and maybe come visit me at the Hostess of Fertility sometime.

– Syr ✨