Virelyra approached the fainted Swablu and Dratini without a word, her expression unreadable. But as she drew closer, a sudden chill raced down their spines, jolting them awake.
They looked up—and froze.
Their Mother stood over them, eyes glinting with a dark, unsettling light. Cold sweat broke out on their brows as they instinctively began to inch away.
Their cries caught in their throats when they felt themselves being lifted by the scruff of their necks, as if by the very embodiment of terror.
Then, unexpectedly, a sweet and playful voice sounded from behind them, "Hehe~ No need to sulk, losing to your grandparents isn't anything to be ashamed of!"
Both Pokémon sighed in relief, but the moment was short-lived.
A telepathic voice echoed gently in their minds, sending a shiver down their backs: "We'll just have to double your training, won't we~ my dear children~?"
(Ah~! Father, save us!) Teary-eyed, they turned their gaze toward Arthur—only to find him deep in conversation with Lena, entirely oblivious to their plight.
Realizing escape was futile, the two slumped in resignation, their expressions hollow with defeat.
How could they have possibly won? They started the battle with confidence, but deep down, they knew—the gap between them and their opponents was far too wide.
Was losing really such a surprise?
Not even Dratini's powered-up Draco Meteor had been enough to knock one of them out!
(We did our best, alright!?) they thought in quiet protest, though their faces betrayed nothing.
In any case, even if the training was harsh, they still wanted to grow stronger. And so, with silent resolve, they accepted their fate—obedient and determined.
(Next time… we'll be the ones standing tall—even against the strong!)
The fire of determination lit in their hearts once more—especially in Swablu, who harbored a quiet insecurity about not being a true Dragon-type yet. It blamed itself for the loss, having been the first to fall.
Next time, it would rise!
It would train even harder!
Virelyra seemed to sense what Swablu was thinking. She offered a gentle smile and reassured it, "You did great, Swablu—you gave it everything you had. Using Dragon Cheer just before fainting? That was truly praiseworthy.
"And while Dratini may not have knocked anyone out, Draco Meteor still dealt some solid damage.
"Once you both reach at least level 20, I'm sure you'll be able to beat them with ease"
Though she rarely bothered with a Pokédex to check other Trainers' Pokémon, her sharp dragonic instincts could instantly gauge a creature's strength—and Pokémon were no exception. She knew that both Beedrill and Butterfree were much stronger than her Pokémon. Still, that made it the perfect opportunity. After all, the best growth often came from facing stronger opponents.
The truth was, she'd noticed something odd: her Pokémon were developing more slowly than most. But after sparring with Arthur previously, their growth had accelerated far more than usual. That experience had sparked an idea—one that led her to arrange battles with stronger opponents.
She'd even tried battling Rosaria, but the effect had been minimal.
So Virelyra came to a conclusion: the only ones who could truly help her Pokémon grow were Arthur's parents—since Arthur was, technically, the Father of her "kids," that made his parents their symbolic grandparents.
It echoed a time-honored truth among dragons: true strength is forged in the shadow of their elders.
And now, that ancient instinct was proving just as true for her Pokémon.
This was also the first time Virelyra had symbolically acknowledged someone as the father of her "kids", so she was still very much in the experimental phase. But sparring with Arthur and his family had already shown promising results.
Dratini had already reached level 15.
Swablu, unfortunately, was still stuck at level 10.
A victory in this match would've meant tremendous growth—but even in loss, the experience was still valuable.
One reason behind the earlier proposal to "guard" Arthur for a month was precisely this: Virelyra needed an excuse to have her Pokémon battle Arthur and his family regularly, to observe and measure their growth rate.
Though she was easygoing by nature, she still felt a little awkward about dropping by their house repeatedly to ask for Pokémon Battles. But now? Now she had the perfect excuse—after all, she'd be staying here for a whole month!
After healing her Pokémon with her own healing spell, Virelyra let them rest inside their Poké Balls and approached the others. "As expected of Arthuros's parents! Truly worthy of being my father- and mother-in-law!"
Her words hung in the air, freezing everyone in place as their eyes locked onto her in stunned disbelief.
Arthur sighed, at a loss for how to even begin explaining.
Then, catching Virelyra's secret wink and grin aimed at him, a flare of anger ignited within him. Stop teasing me! What if my parents and Lena actually believe you?
I'll beat you up! Wait... I'm too weak—she'd beat me up instead! Arthur cursed silently.
Lena was the first to snap out of her stunned silence. "Vira, you know how to joke. The only woman worthy of being my brother's wife is someone beautiful, strong… elegant… majes… tic… with worldwide reputa… tion…"
Her voice softened with each word, trailing off as realization dawned—each of those qualities fit Virelyra perfectly: the Sky Sovereign of the Dragon Race!
"Okay, okay, enough joking! I'll have a Pokémon Battle with you later, sis. For now, I've got some business to discuss with Virelyra." Arthur cut her off, grabbing Virelyra's hand and pulling her to leave the Pokémon Battle Dome together.
Anna giggled softly, emphasizing, "'Business', huh?"
"It's real business, mom!" Arthur flushed, ignoring the teasing as he walked away with Virelyra.
Back at the research lab, Arthur muttered irritably, "Don't cause any misunderstandings next time."
"Technically, it's true—and Rosaria was a witness to our 'wedding'," Virelyra said, her voice dead serious, but the smirk tugging at her lips said otherwise.
Arthur's face darkened as he narrowed his eyes and snapped, "Pikachu, teach this annoying old hag dragon a lesson! Thunder Wave!"
"Pikapi!"
Bzzzzzt!
Completely unfazed by the Thunder Wave as if it hadn't even touched her, Virelyra burst out laughing and gave Arthur's shoulder a light, controlled pat. "Hahaha! You should've seen your face, Arthuros! …Wait, who're you calling an old hag?! I'll have you know, I'm one of the youngest Sovereign Dragons around!"
Arthur smirked teasingly. "I don't know how old you really are, but to a 13-year-old human like me, you're definitely an old hag!"
Virelyra shot him a fierce death glare, but Arthur just shrugged it off and told Pikachu to stop using Thunder Wave before it accidentally hit him too.
With a sigh, he sank into a chair, deciding to change the subject. "Anyway, let me brief you on what I need your help with."
He explained how the controlled weathers in Rastor's Safari Zone were gradually eroding the magic circles' runes, spiraling out of control within their designated areas—spilling over and wreaking havoc elsewhere. The resources to maintain the magic circles weren't the issue; the problem was that, given enough time, these artificial weathers would destabilize beyond even his control, threatening the entire ecosystem.
This was the consequence of cramming too many environments into such a limited space.
To Arceus above, please let this be the biggest problem I have to fix in Rastor's Safari Zone, Arthur silently prayed to the God of Pokémon. His project had been delayed time and again by one complication after another. Creating a perfectly controlled ecosystem for Pokémon was proving to be a nightmare.
It'd be so much easier if I had some kind of system like those novel protagonists do—one that'd just gift me a ready-made Safari Zone so I wouldn't lose my hair over this... He thought with a sigh.
Virelyra listened intently, nodding rapidly. Pressing a fist to her chest, she said proudly, "No problem! Weather control is my specialty. Your Safari Zone will soon be able to support every type of environment you want."
"Thank you," Arthur smiled, pulling out a Poké Ball.
Virelyra looked at the Poké Ball in confusion as Arthur grinned and pulled out more and more Poké Balls from his spatial waist bag, piling them into a small mountain in front of him.
With veins bulging on his forehead, Arthur leaned back in his chair, gripping a Poké Ball in hand. "I don't have any Master Balls, let alone that God Ball you mentioned, but I'm going to vent my 'anger' on you for causing that misunderstanding with my family earlier. Get ready for a barrage of Poké Balls!"
"Oh, so you remembered my request!" Virelyra exclaimed, arms wide open, ready to be pelted.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Was that even a 'request'?"
"Yeah! Try to catch this mighty Virelyra Skydrathis Aeonwing, the Sky Sovereign! The strongest Pokémon!" She said proudly, while her Pokémon cheered from the sidelines.
Tilting his head, Arthur really couldn't understand her thought process sometimes.
With a shrug, he tossed the Poké Ball in his hand, smacking it lightly against her head.
"Hmm, I see..." Virelyra said thoughtfully as the ball bounced off and rolled to the ground—completely unresponsive.
Arthur didn't stop, spamming Poké Balls at her just like she wanted.
But the more he threw, the more embarrassed he felt.
This is so childish... What am I even doing? Arthur's cheeks flushed as he cursed himself.
Finally, when only one Poké Ball remained at his feet, he sighed and picked it up. Well, might as well throw the last one.
The last Poké Ball flew across the research lab and landed squarely on Virelyra's head.
Clink!
The ball snapped open, absorbing her inside before closing shut and dropping to the floor, trembling as it tried to capture the 'Pokémon' within.
"What? How?!" Arthur gasped, rushing over but hesitant to touch the shaking ball. "Virelyra, are you okay? Can you hear me?"
"Aww, little Arthuros worried about me? I'm touched!" The familiar teasing voice echoed from inside, easing Arthur's concern.
As the ball wobbled again, he asked, "What's going on?"
Finally, Virelyra burst out, shattering the Poké Ball. A soft light surrounded her as her form expanded and materialized back into her half-human shape. She glanced at Arthur with a playful smile."Can't I be captured by a Poké Ball?"
"Of course not!" Arthur said firmly. He knew exactly how Poké Balls were made and that no living creature could truly be captured by them. That's why he felt relieved—knowing no one could misuse them to trap other living beings.
Virelyra picked up the broken ball, still smiling. "I just let myself be captured by tapping into the symbolic link I share with these kids. Technically, that makes me a Pokémon, too."
She added with a grin, "Besides, I can use Flying and Dragon-type moves—so why not?"
"That's true... wait, you can use Flying-type moves too?"
"Of course, Arthuros! I'm the Sky Sovereign, after all!" She wrapped an arm around his neck happily. "And I have to thank you for the move Roost! Its healing power is outrageous—way better than any self-recovery ability I've ever known!"
Distracted from the Poké Ball issue, Arthur's curiosity got the better of him. "What about other types?"
Virelyra shook her head but still grinned. "I can't—but who needs them? Flying and Dragon-types are supreme!"
At least she considers Flying-types on par with Dragon-types, Arthur thought with a smile. If she only let her Pokémon learn Dragon-type moves, they'd get bruised and beaten by the first Fairy-type they ran into…
While he couldn't make any type completely immune to another, his system still allowed for a 99% damage reduction. That meant Fairy-types would still have a massive advantage over Dragon-types—especially for Pokémon like Virelyra's Dratini, who had only learned Dragon-type moves so far.
After cleaning up the scattered Poké Balls from the floor, Arthur chatted casually with Virelyra before pulling out a map of Rastor's Safari Zone and pointing out several key landmarks.
Virelyra frowned as she examined it. "You squeezed this many zones into such a small area? No wonder you need help. Even with my mana supporting your magic circles, it won't be enough to extend the lifespan of your runes. The power of nature—even artificial—deserves to be respected."
Arthur gave a wry smile and nodded. "Yeah, maybe I bit off more than I could chew with this whole ambitious project. But I want my first Safari Zone to support every Pokémon type. Think of them like your kids—you wouldn't let an Ice-type live in a scorching desert, right?"
Virelyra nodded, a flicker of maternal instinct in her eyes. "I couldn't bring myself to do that… unless it was for training."
Dratini and Swablu immediately shivered and backed away instinctively.
Arthur chuckled at their reaction, then looked at Virelyra with curiosity. "Even you can't go against the force of nature?"
She gave him a gentle smile, her voice tinged with quiet longing. "If I could, I wouldn't be seeking greater strength to better myself."
Then her expression softened as she looked at her Pokémon. "So, I have to thank you—for bringing my kids into this world."
She gently picked up both Dratini and Swablu, hugging them close with unmistakable love.
Arthur smiled at the sight. This… this is exactly what I'd hoped for when I brought Pokémon into this world...
Beyond establishing Pokémon Leagues and creating a system where people could challenge Gym Leaders, Elite Fours, and eventually a Champion… Arthur had another hope.
He wanted the natives of this world to fall in love with Pokémon the same way he had.
And through those bonds, he believed Pokémon could help people find answers—or even forge new futures for themselves.
Just like Virelyra.
Virelyra stretched with a yawn. "Anyway, I'm absolutely drained. I'll help you with your little crisis tomorrow—but for now, I intend to do something truly heroic and majestic: sleep."
Arthur rolled his eyes at her but nodded nonetheless, speaking with a slightly sarcastic tone. "I suppose I'll go prepare a bed for Your Majesty, the Sky Sovereign... or would you prefer to retire to that grand alternate space of yours again? Like when we had that sleepover with Rosaria?"
Virelyra waved her hand lazily before her eyes lit up. "Actually, Arthuros… do you have a better Poké Ball?" she asked, completely out of nowhere.
He blinked, puzzled. "I do… but what do you need it for?"
"To sleep, of course!" she said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "When I was inside the Poké Ball earlier, it felt unbelievably cozy—like it was made just for me! Honestly, it was so perfect, I almost felt like it was trying to tempt me to stay in there forever!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly. That made sense. His Poké Balls were designed with the comfort of Pokémon in mind. Rather than forcefully restraining them—risking stress or even injury—his capture method focused on relaxation and psychological safety.
The ball created a space of absolute rest. If a Pokémon willingly relaxed inside, lowering its guard and letting itself drift into that calm, it meant successful capture—drawn not by coercion, but by comfort.
He believed the original Poké Balls in the Pokémon World probably functioned the same way—or at least similarly. Unless, of course, it was a special type like the Master Ball, designed to bypass all resistance.
By that logic, Great Balls and Ultra Balls weren't just tougher than Poké Balls—they were probably more comfortable too.
After a moment of wandering thoughts, Arthur finally caught on. "Wait... you want to sleep inside a Poké Ball?"
"Why not? Can't I?" Virelyra tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.
Arthur blinked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Are you seriously treating yourself like a Pokémon?"
She shot him a mischievous grin. "Shall I grace you with another dazzling Dragon Dance performance?"
Sighing, Arthur shrugged in reluctant acceptance. "Fair enough."
Reaching into his spatial waist bag, he pulled out a sleek Poké Ball. Its polished black surface gleamed under the light, wrapped by a bold red band around its center. Golden accents trimmed the button and seams, lending it an elegant, high-class appearance. The glossy finish and sophisticated color scheme clearly marked it as a premium item.
"This is called a Luxury Ball—think of it as a five-star hotel for Pokémon. Or rather, it's the highest-grade Poké Ball I have at the moment," Arthur explained as Virelyra, along with her Pokémon and his own, gathered around, eyes fixed on the exquisite ball in his hand.
Unlike the Great Ball or Ultra Ball, the Luxury Ball prioritized comfort above all else. It offered Pokémon a lavish living space—like a plush hotel suite—but this came at a cost: the ball was far more fragile. Even the slightest jolt before a capture completed could cause it to shatter. The design focused on maximum comfort rather than durability.
Virelyra lifted the Luxury Ball, turning it over with an approving smile. "Thank you, Arthuros. This design suits my taste perfectly!"
With a gentle tap on her forehead, the Luxury Ball opened smoothly, drawing her inside. It clicked shut softly as it dropped to the ground—a flawless, critical capture.
Arthur picked up the Luxury Ball, an urge bubbling inside him to raise it high and shout, "I've caught Virelyra!"—but he wisely held himself back.
"How do you feel?" he called gently.
Silence.
"Virelyra?" he tried again.
Suddenly, a delighted shout echoed from within the Luxury Ball: "This is divine! The air is crisp, the light is soft, and the cushions—oh, the cushions! It's like floating in a dream woven from clouds and velvet! Hahh~ I never want to leave… This is my paradise now… my perfect little nest…"
"Dra? Pika? Swa? Mis?" all four Pokémon cried out simultaneously, their voices filled with curiosity and envy, wondering how such comfort could feel.
Sensing their thoughts, Arthur apologized gently. Unfortunately, due to their design, Arthur couldn't risk swapping out their Poké Balls—for now, at least.
Holding the Luxury Ball in his palm, with no sign of Virelyra wanting to come out, he felt amused.
Though he'd ensured the Luxury Ball was built for maximum comfort, he hadn't anticipated just how much Virelyra would enjoy it. "If you like it that much, you're welcome to take the Luxury Ball with you when you leave."
"Really…? Thank you, Arthuros…" came Virelyra's happy, sleepy voice from inside the ball.
Smiling, Arthur set the Luxury Ball gently beside his pillow on the bed. Then he walked over to his research desk, thinking, Alright, since I'm free now, time to work on another template for Gen 2 Pokémon!
He pulled a Memora Potion from his spatial waist bag and popped it open, lifting it in his hand—
"Arthuros… you haven't forgotten... why I'm staying here for a whole month, have you…?" Virelyra's relaxed yet admonishing voice echoed as the Memora Potion in his hand was suddenly pulled through a crack in the air, vanishing before his eyes.
"..."